I persuaded a friend to subscribe to this blog on the grounds that it was, in part, or would be, in part, about my history of following, albeit from a distance, these days, Notts Forest (a contentious title for some people, they say ‘Notts’ means Notts County, they prefer Nottingham Forest). Well I’m sorry but… Continue reading My life with the Forest: one fan’s story
Vineyard 3 : Yes, we’ve got the wind up now : the reality of English vineyards
Once again this is writing as therapy! I’m making notes for this blog as I sit looking out the window of our barn at our vines swaying gently in the breeze. Happily bobbing their heads in the warm, late summer / early autumn sunshine, then I wake up and look out the window, it’s blowing… Continue reading Vineyard 3 : Yes, we’ve got the wind up now : the reality of English vineyards
Retirement to China
More from our friends retired to teach in China for 6 months TRANSITIONING FROM ONE CULTURE TO ANOTHER (Part 0ne) Our scheduled 20 hour trip began at 6:00pm when we left my mother-in-law’s home in suburban MD, for Dulles Airport. My brother-in-law, John graciously offered to drive us through the infamous Washington Beltway traffic. It was… Continue reading Retirement to China
Vineyard 2 : Yes, we are planting vines. No they probably won’t grow. Yes we are mad
Again I have to start this piece by admitting I had no intention of publishing it right now. But then I read an article in The Guardian, this, only one week after the article that prompted my last blog about how wonderful all was in the world of English vine growing. And this article, one… Continue reading Vineyard 2 : Yes, we are planting vines. No they probably won’t grow. Yes we are mad
Some people retire and go to work in China
This is another one of those bonus blogs, i.e more than the once a week I committed myself to. Some friends of ours have retired and are setting off to China to teach for 5 months. Follow their adventures or live vicariously for a while.
Emergency Therapeutic blog – dealing with elderly parent
I know it’s not a week since my last blog, a day in fact but I need help. There’s an hour’s jam on the M1 and today is the day for visiting my elderly mother down the M1. I’ve just put the phone down for the third time. It is the above, no, not God,… Continue reading Emergency Therapeutic blog – dealing with elderly parent
Vineyard 1 : Why in God’s name would you plant a vineyard there?
I was going to save this blog for a later date but given the topicality of the topic I thought I’d publish and be damned. The following extract was from the Guardian last Saturday. “The prospect, says the manager of Denbies (in Surrey) vineyard, is for record sales and record quality. ‘2013 has been a… Continue reading Vineyard 1 : Why in God’s name would you plant a vineyard there?
My manifesto
Once a week on a Tuesday I’m going to tell you about my retirement experiences. Don’t be fooled by the somewhat bucolic title there’s a lot of stuff going off even if most of it is in my head. What better week to launch my new and exciting blog than in the week shortly after… Continue reading My manifesto