tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2009-11-07:/MokoFeed2009-11-07T20:11:03+01:00tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2008-04-21:/2008/04/21/more-cold-wet-rain-4073639/RetiringGracefully2008-04-21T12:59:11+02:002008-04-21T12:59:53+02:00 <p>I am sure Cornish rain is wetter than anywhere else!- it pelts down in big silvery baubles, slushing down the back of your neck, penetrating scarves, hats,hoods. Even the birds have disappeared as you slosh along on your walk with the water pouring out of the gutters. Then, later, you cross the river to see friends and it is like a Famous Five adventure- torch glittering in the raindrops, engine bubbling, the sound of your water-proofs squeaking against the plastic seats, waves gently pummelling the side of the little boat. the lights at the other side get closer, brighter, you step out onto "dry" land- (bit of a mis-nomer there!) and get a warm welcome, fortifying food and drink. Then, much later, back into the little craft, sliding across the by now flat calm sea and home to a nice warm toddy. But I have to say, roll on the warmth and the sun!!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2008/04/21/more-cold-wet-rain-4073639/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2008-01-19:/2008/01/19/winter_of_our_discontent~3600260/RetiringGracefully2008-01-19T13:36:58+01:002008-01-19T14:29:56+01:00 <p>Rain,sleet,more rain, wind, fog, rain, mist -- welcome to winter in Cornwall!-- and whoever says prices are going down in London must be mad-- they are still going up as far as we can see--we saw 2 flats last week, one we saw 2 years ago in a dreadful state was STILL in a dreadful state and is now £300,000 more expensive, the other has increased by £450,000 (50%!!! and it is not even very special) - WHAT IS GOING ON ??? Who has so much money to spend on dreadful property??? --- so we wait down here in the rain and the cold with the waves lashing around our building and the wind licking our cheeks and the salt spray stinging our eyes - actually quite magical at times--- at some point our perfect place will come up for sale and we shall be up there like a shot--- we don't for one minute miss our "ivory tower" which eventually sold last October after 4 false starts and a threat of sueing for vast sums when the buyer nearly didn't complete-- now we just want to get going with the next phase of our lives--- </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2008/01/19/winter_of_our_discontent~3600260/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-05-11:/2007/05/11/welsh_rarebit_the_ultimate_version_in_my~2252422/RetiringGracefully2007-05-11T16:59:16+02:002007-05-11T16:59:16+02:00 <p>By popular request, and courtesy of A A Gill's Ivy cookbook---</p> <p>150 g Cheddar chees, grated.<br> 3 medium egg yolks<br> 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce<br> 1 tsp English mustard<br> 6 drops Tabasco sauce<br> 30 ml Guiness (not very much so you have to drink the rest, an added bonus!)<br> 8 slices bread - a smaller bloomer loaf is ideal<br> salt and pepper.</p> <p>Mix together all the ingredients except the bread, and season to taste. Toast the bread on both sides, spread the cheese mixture on top, abnout 1 cm thick and grill until browned. Delicious! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/05/11/welsh_rarebit_the_ultimate_version_in_my~2252422/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-05-10:/2007/05/10/recipes_for_the_good_life~2245356/RetiringGracefully2007-05-10T14:37:01+02:002007-05-10T14:37:01+02:00 <p>I do believe that living well means eating well and luckily I have acquired the perfect cookbook. It contains recipes from the Ivy Restaurant by A.A.Gill. So now we can enjoy crispy duck and watercress salad, bang bang chicken, not to mention their salmon fishcakes any time we want. This ties in nicely with our aim to find ways of living enjoyably but more cheaply - one of the best is their recipe for Welsh Rarebit - our Sunday evenings would not be complete without it! (The only trouble is that when I actually had it at aforementioned restaurant, dare I say it, it was not as tasty as my version---)The other "problem" is that you look at the menu there and think- "had that, had that,had that---" so really you don't need to go there atall--- But it is fun to eat relatively cheaply at home and then enjoy a nice meal out. One of the first meals I cooked for Liz 34 years ago, and which we still do today, is belly pork cooked very very slowly in a tin of Campbell's concentrated celery soup - it really is delicious! (although these days we have to use mushroom soup as they don't make the celery any more- have tried everywhere but to no avail.) We often have a fetta and watercress omelette, or tuna,celery,kidney beans,parsley,and sesame-seeds salad, or tart's pasta (tomato, parsley,chilli,garlic, spaghetti)- oh dear, I guess I shouldn't have missed lunch today!-- waiting for the people to come and remove our grand piano-- the first bit of yet more downsizing before we move in ever-decreasing circles---- </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/05/10/recipes_for_the_good_life~2245356/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-05-04:/2007/05/04/i_thought_my_grass_would_be_greener~2208993/RetiringGracefully2007-05-04T13:12:13+02:002007-05-04T13:12:13+02:00 <p>I hoped the grass would be greener once i was no longer employed, and, yes, thank goodness, it is! As it happens, I used to have the most beautiful lawn,(I was the original lawn-mower man!) We laid it with turf supplied by the firm that had supplied the turf for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. We actually took a day out to go and choose our strips from a big field in which it had just sprouted---I nurtured it, fed it, watered it, mowed it in stripes, horizontally one time, them vertically, then diagonally- strangely therapeutic in the evening sun after a tough day - and, oh that smell of new mown grass- so fragrant and fresh and - well - green! I AM glad we sold the big house and garden before last summer when the hose-pipe ban would have turned it into a barren brown stump-land (of course it would always recover- grass is so resillient--)I actually made 2 compost bins too, based on ones we saw in the vegetable garden at Wisley. So those were our gardening years. I do miss my shed a little - oh yes we had all the acoutrements! Our vegetable garden was a picture with rows of leaks, peas, coriander, rasberries,-- and behind them a big dahlia bed which liz tended- tulips followed by poppies followed by dahlias-But all that is part of our PAST life now. We dont want to be rotting in a vast house and garden with children feeling obligated to come and visit. Now WE shall do the visiting and eventually we may become trendy grandparents living in Covent Garden-- a different but equally valid take on life as a still-new retiree--- </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/05/04/i_thought_my_grass_would_be_greener~2208993/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-04-19:/2007/04/19/dawn_breaks_and_my_tooth_aches~2121403/RetiringGracefully2007-04-19T15:21:04+02:002007-04-19T15:21:04+02:00 <p>Up before dawn this morning- couldn't sleep, worried, and an aching tooth. Amazing being in a city just as the light is coming up. I could hear the chimes of Big Ben striking 4am drifting down the Thames. A lonely bus pulled into the terminal, picked up a solitary worker and pulled off. A police car screamed by, sirens blaring, closely followed by an ambulance. A group of seagulls wheeled and screetched their wake-up calls, quite mysterious shapes silhouetted in the lightening sky. I looked down on empty offices with lights dimmed, and, unaware that I was watching, a cleaner started to vacuum. The air actually smelt fresh and clean and cool, in contrast to how it generally smells later in the day. Then the sun started to rise, miraculously sending rays which transformed the roof tops and office windows, making them glimmer and shimmer--- the city was coming alive at the start of another day-- The general low rumble that is a constant accompaniment to life in London grew louder, the bridge got busier, and my toothache got worse, so I'm off to the dentist. But you know, I miss the early morning sounds of childhood, being an old romantic-- that clink of the milk bottles, the delivery of the newspaper through the letterbox-- shall we ever have that again -? Only, I fear, if we were to move out of Central London---so you can't have everything and it WAS a rather magical time at 4am this morning--- </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/04/19/dawn_breaks_and_my_tooth_aches~2121403/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-04-12:/2007/04/12/scraggy_skin_and_knobbly_knees~2077204/RetiringGracefully2007-04-12T11:03:18+02:002007-04-12T11:03:18+02:00 <p>I've just noticed that my skin is different to how it used to be--it kind of falls in folds around my stomach a bit - I lost a bit of weight last year and didn't notice it then -- it reminds me of those pictures of old men one sometimes sees- (though of course I am not old really!)-- the other pain is that I can't seem to straighten one finger --I guess that is a bit of arthritis? 1000 mg of fish oil coming up! And we both have these "age spots" appearing - it is entirely natural I am told but I remember looking at my grandmother's hands and thinking I didn't want to have hands like that--- well, hey ho, looks like we are going that way whether we like it or not! At least my head of hair is still a crowning glory- the hairdresser says I must have some Mexican in me, it is so strong and thick! We are still comparatively SO lucky though. There is an amazingly high statistic for people who retire and drop dead within the first six months -- they simply can not cope with not being defined by their work and feel lost in the world. We are truly enjoying the coming of spring, the lighter evenings, we have a true sense of hope for the future even though we are taking the biggest gamble of our life in selling our flat and not looking for anywhere else until the money is in the bank (well actually an internet bank where we can get 5.6% interest or more- we swap our meagre savings around with some regularity, another thing we have time for--).So, forward into the day--- </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/04/12/scraggy_skin_and_knobbly_knees~2077204/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-04-04:/2007/04/04/the_art_of_enjoying_a_private_view~2031163/RetiringGracefully2007-04-04T11:17:54+02:002007-04-04T11:17:54+02:00 <p>Retiring, as we are,gracefully,we went to a private view of"Unknown Monet"at the Royal Academy last evening. We stood with half of Middle England, queueing in the courtyard with a freezing wind buffeting us- when who should come slowly down the steps towards a waiting car but Lady Antonia Fraser,glorious in a purple pashmina, and Harold Pinter, walking with a stick, looking very frail. How amazing to see them in real life - they had obviously had a REAL private view-- Anyway, we held back in the queue to let them pass by us-funny how one really admires true talent, not all those B-listers. What a great exhibition too! The value of these Times-organised private views is that, for a relatively small sum, you get a v.good talk by someone passionate about Monet, the ability to see the exhibition 1 person deep, (instead of 4 or 6 deep,as at the Tate's Hogarth exhib.,) and you get to drink wine and eat nibbles in two extraordinary golden gilded rooms which are re-hung each time we go. And you even get a goody bag at the end-one of whose contents was a special Monet oyster card holder- Liz has bagged mine already- she is like a child in her glee!One of the ARTS of the private view , apart from admiring the paintings obviously,is to move nearish to the wine waiter- if you just happen to be standing near one you can certainly get a nice full refill,(or two!) making your ticket even better value!Home to smoked salmon/philedelphia rolls and another glass of white wine-- v nice evening! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/04/04/the_art_of_enjoying_a_private_view~2031163/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-04-02:/2007/04/02/tea_leaves_ironing_and_feeling_a_bit_fla~2019054/RetiringGracefully2007-04-02T12:10:57+02:002007-04-02T12:10:57+02:00 <p>I sit looking at the old tea caddy decorated with an ancient scratched coronation picture. I am at Mrs B's with the last ever batch of ironing. She is brewing me a proper cup of tea with tea-leaves (none of this teabag stuff!)There is a magnificent patchwork tea-cosy on the tea-pot and a plate of hot-cross buns next to it and some Tesco finest strawberry jam. The mood is sombre. Mrs B has been with us for longer than I dare think. She started cleaning our first house over 30 years ago, and has been with us through thick and thin. When her artificial leg finally became too much of a nuisance, she started doing our ironing, and my god could she iron! Even my shirts with frayed and battered collars and cuffs came back looking as though, put them in cellophane and they could have sold as new! I must admit it has always been one of my little luxuries to have a shelf full of folded shirts. Liz tells me I now have to get used to hanging up my shirts in the cupboard - neither she nor I can fold to save our lives (let alone iron, actually) and anyway, life is too short----Now my 60s retro black polo necks seem a good option --except summer is coming. I am not a jeans and T-shirt sort of chap but the LandsEnd seersucker shirts aren't atall bad, and they don't need ironing! Anyway, Mrs B is moving on, as indeed are we, hopefully, so it will no longer be economic to drive all the way over to the other side of London with a basket of ironing every week. So fare-well, Mrs B -- you were a treasure every home should have, and we shall put on a cuppa and raise our mugs to you. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/04/02/tea_leaves_ironing_and_feeling_a_bit_fla~2019054/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-30:/2007/03/30/on_friends_and_relations~2002643/RetiringGracefully2007-03-30T11:39:11+02:002007-03-30T11:39:11+02:00 <p>We are slightly in a mid-life crisis, with aging parents hundreds of miles away, living in a big house with a huge garden and refusing absolutely to get help. We all try to persuade them but they are adamant. (Perhaps that is why we consciously have moved somewhere small.) Mother, in her mid-eighties has become like a delightful little girl again - from running her home so completely ship-shapely, and producing fantastic banquets, we go to stay and there is dust on the window sills and the bed-linen smells ever-so-slightly of cheesy feet- her sheets always had this wonderful smell of Fairy Snow and lavender --it is sad -- and yet, at 11.30am she is saying, "is it time for our drink yet?" A glass of red wine is now obligatory -- good for her heart you see, then at 5.30 the same thing -- and she is happy, even when she suddenly switches out of consciousness and forgets who we are and then , equally suddenly , switches back in again. It is hard to imagine them not around. I reflect on life and think of friends made from schooldays, from university, friends made when the children were born,when they were at school, friends made as we moved from one home to another. My best friend committed suicide a few years ago, another very good friend died a couple of years back --this is the time of life when one no longer seems immortal --so best just to get on, get up and ENJOY every day. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/30/on_friends_and_relations~2002643/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-29:/2007/03/29/one_small_step_for_me_never_mind_mankind~1998308/RetiringGracefully2007-03-29T16:54:54+02:002007-03-29T16:54:54+02:00 <p>Today I cracked Fiendish Soduko in under half-an-hour! This is a record for me -- I have been addicted to Soduko ever since its introduction onto the back page of the Times a year or so ago-- strange really, because I am not a numbers man, and certainly not a maths person -- though a friend did say, "Well, what is maths if not patterns of numbers? And what is Soduko if not patterns of numbers ?" The two are indeed related so maybe I might be able to understand maths better these days than when I was at school. I was in the top set, constantly struggling so as not to loose face with my peers, and eventually achieving a grade 6 GCE pass at the end-- so there is a real sense of progress here with me! Something strange actually happened today -- I used a bit of logic in doing the puzzle that I have not used before, - when I tried to remember what it was, to analyse what my mental process had been, I couldn't. All I know is that it was the key to solving the puzzle in record time. Will it happen again? Let's hope so! It was a remarkable experience, as though a little trap-door opened up into a hidden little attic room in my brain , and there were bright shafts of light shining through the dusty window!! And I feel sharper and brighter for it . It is so obviously true that the more you use your brain, especially as you get older, the more alive you feel - what a great thing! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/29/one_small_step_for_me_never_mind_mankind~1998308/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-28:/2007/03/28/things_that_go_bump_in_the_day~1992136/RetiringGracefully2007-03-28T16:38:49+02:002007-03-28T16:38:49+02:00 <p> Living in a small space makes complete sense. We have cut our overheads dramatically, (and boy, did we need to!) but it needs care and consideration from each of us. There is one particular part of the through-way from kitchen to dining area to main living room where we are always colliding-- similarly over by the fridge and sink-- it gets very irritating sometimes, as if we are purposely trying to bump into each other - You just have to remember that it is chance that you were both in that space at the same time! And getting over that irritation is all part of getting used to living together as a couple who don't out to work. So it is fine. The other good thing I heard is that for every cross thing you say to your partner, there should be five nice things -- that is a very good thought to work by and end on for today. Does "I love you" repeated five times make up for "why the heck do you need to go in the fridge just when I want to wash my coffee cup?"!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/28/things_that_go_bump_in_the_day~1992136/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-27:/2007/03/27/middle_aged_spread_and_we_re_not_talking~1985729/RetiringGracefully2007-03-27T16:19:58+02:002007-03-27T16:19:58+02:00 <p>Try as we may,our waist-lines seem to have expanded far too easily in the last few months.With summer slowly approaching it seems like a good time to re-do a mild Atkins diet which we tried successfully 2 years ago. Unfortunately it basically means cutting out biscuits, cakes, nice nibbly things-- quite hard when our routine tends to include:- a digestive biscuit with my tea and fag first thing, a chocolate wafer with morning coffee, a piece of shortbread with post-lunch coffee, a piece of home-made victoria sponge filled with jam and cream for tea and a rasberry ruffle or chocolate orange segment with post-supper coffee----Wooah, I've written it all out and NO WONDER we are expanding!!! (Despite a daily brisk walk to Pimlico or where-ever.) WILLPOWER is going to set in. Atkins allows half an avocado and 12 olives each day as your little extras -- and you are not supposed to drink but b----- that, we are not stopping our 2 or so glasses of dry white wine every evening - (it is from Tesco, one of their cheapest boxes and is really quite palatable as an everyday tipple.) Also, a piece or two of 85 per cent dark chocolate can't do that much harm---The regime is ok once you get used to it and last time we lost 2 stone each --Over the winter the waist-line has just spread but luckily, only a few pounds to loose this time -anyway, puts pay to teas at the Ritz for the time being (only joking!!) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/27/middle_aged_spread_and_we_re_not_talking~1985729/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-26:/2007/03/26/country_squire_or_city_slicker_neither_a~1977473/RetiringGracefully2007-03-26T11:18:39+02:002007-03-26T11:19:07+02:00 <p>To Gloucestershire for the weekend, staying in a beautiful old farmhouse surrounded by fields of sheep, cows, and millions of daffodils in shaded dells, with ducks and pheasants coming to the back door for their breakfast. Bowls of new-laid eggs, antique patchwork lace curtains, a huge fire, nettle,comfrey and wild garlic soup, quince, haw and apple jam,-- peace and stillness (and a lot of laughter of course). Are we making a mistake moving into the centre of town? We do wonder ---all this sort of idyll could be ours- but-- but what? I guess we are actually deep down city folk. There is nothing to stop us visiting people and then they can come up and enjoy the razzle-dazzle of the city. And of course a life like theirs doesn't just happen - it has to grow organically and they have been in their house for 30 years now --we are just a little envious! And then one has to remember the downside-- no mobile phone will work there (bliss actually but totally impractical for us!), they regularly get cut off by snow in the winter ,we have no connections whatsoever with the area, so, let us get on with our plans - onward and upward! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/26/country_squire_or_city_slicker_neither_a~1977473/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-23:/2007/03/23/not_dead_yet_why_a_laughter_line_is_wort~1959310/RetiringGracefully2007-03-23T12:14:01+01:002007-03-23T12:14:01+01:00 <p>There's someone with the same post-code and the same name as me! Our new doctor phoned yesterday, asking if I had a serious disease--I said "no" and would never visit him anyway unless I was at death's door(to which he replied he hoped, without being rude, that he would never meet me.)Despite smoking, my blood pressure is ridiculously low, unlike poor Liz who has white-coat syndrome and had to get hers taken 6 times before the nurse would let her go-"Look,my love,I can see you haven't got high b.p but we have to get the reading down". I was saying"just breathe deeply, think of the sea "- eventually hers came down to just below the danger level!! The trouble is, it's the same evey time we have to sign on at a new surgery. Anyway, there is now a red alert on their screen when MY name comes up, to ensure I am not treated for the wrong disease! I had a nice compliment when someone said she loved my laughter lines--some might call them wrinkles but, ever the optimist, I am happy to have laughter-lines. Apparantly I am also in touch with my feminine side --well, I may wear the occasional pink sweater and I do like cooking but I am definitely not a new age wimp! The thing is, being rung up by the doctor in the afternoon made me feel a bit odd -a year ago he'ld have had to leave a message at work--- </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/23/not_dead_yet_why_a_laughter_line_is_wort~1959310/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-22:/2007/03/22/films_opera_jazz_what_more_could_a_chap_~1952556/RetiringGracefully2007-03-22T12:24:24+01:002007-03-22T12:25:03+01:00 <p>Went to see The Queen last week-(bit obvious that one!)Helen Mirren quite remarkable, the silent shot of Diana looking almost malevolently out at us with her doe-y eyes said it all - how COULD we have all been so stupidly emotional - looking back it seems unbelievable how everyone reacted- normally sane friends left flowers for her---- Then to the Royal Opera House on Saturday where we picked up 2 great seats (Returns)for £35 each- normal cost £80 or so each. OK so it was Thomas Ades's The Tempest- challenging but strangely compelling, and the production was superb.Cheap seats every day at 10.00am- though if it is Pavarotti singing, you would need to camp out overnight! Luckily we don't go for opera particularly but this one absolutely justified its reviews. Then, last evening to the Barbican for E.S.T playing jazz - totally brilliant! They take themes on magicaljourneys,more experimental at times but in the best possible way and again great lighting and production. What an absolute treat it has been to be in London over the last 7 days. Not saving much money but, hey, who cares? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/22/films_opera_jazz_what_more_could_a_chap_~1952556/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-21:/2007/03/21/where_s_the_bloody_washing_gone~1945049/RetiringGracefully2007-03-21T10:43:01+01:002007-03-21T10:43:01+01:00 <p>So, we are preparing to put the ivory tower on the market-the question is,how much do we"house-doctor" it? When we read of people viewing identical beige show-houses,we realize that we can never be like that! Nevertheless, we are tidying up, taking a few pictures down - we are crammed from living in a big house until down-sizing 2 years ago (and we shall be going even smaller in the real centre)--Suddenly a call, the agent is bringing 2 people round who need to move quickly --Panic stations! Ciff the surfaces, hoover the floors, spray with grapefruit room freshener(Liz's) to get rid of smoke (mine)and bacon and eggs breakfast smell (both), grab the washing from the rack and stuff it back in the washing machine, tidy the airing cupboard,fling the slippery bedspread back on the bed + useless cushions, check the cutlery drawer-- apparantly, clean, tidy cutlery drawers are vital to a successful sale!!?? We go out for a walk. Back half an hour later,funny to think people have been nosing around--It isnt till next morning we remember the pile of damp washing that has been sitting for 24 hours in the washing machine-- </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/21/where_s_the_bloody_washing_gone~1945049/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-20:/2007/03/20/blow_the_wind_southerly_please~1938383/RetiringGracefully2007-03-20T11:02:55+01:002007-03-20T11:02:55+01:00 <p>Wow! This morning, sitting in our ivory tower overlooking the Thames it started to snow. The wind wrapped itself round our flat, howling even through the triple glazing. The snow started to fall,blowing in shafts, dancing erratically onto the river-- and such white horses! Wave upon wave seemed to roll up the river (or is it down-I'm never quite sure--)like a gigantic tide, a swirling quagmire . We have never seen it so rough --- My goodness, it makes you want to be sure the Thames barrier works properly!<br> Sure beats going to the office as we sit at the table by the window, cup of coffee in hand, planning the day, watching everyone struggling to work along the slippery pavements, battling against the bitter wind. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/20/blow_the_wind_southerly_please~1938383/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-17:/2007/03/17/the_river_runs_slowly_in_memoriam~1921398/RetiringGracefully2007-03-17T15:25:15+01:002007-03-17T15:36:00+01:00 <p>This morning , after watching a racing gig pass us on the Thames (practicing no doubt for the Great Boat Race) and various pleasure boats, and a barge filled to the gunnels with sand, we saw a sobering sight. Motoring slowly, in parallel lines, were a police craft and two emergency life boats, laden with crew, all looking over the side into the dark, dank muddy water. Their emergency lights were on as they progressed slowly up the river, doing circles every now and then as they thought they saw something . So, who was under the water somewhere? Some poor soul who had got up this morning and thought they could not bear life any more? Some old drunk who had tripped and gone over sideways? Someone who had jumped off a bridge for a laugh and got swept away? It is just quite a sobering and sad sight -- even worse when it happens at night and you see these vast flash-lights trying to penetrate the water as they rumble up and down the river, searching, searching, searching. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/17/the_river_runs_slowly_in_memoriam~1921398/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-15:/2007/03/15/spring_is_all_around~1911116/RetiringGracefully2007-03-15T19:16:08+01:002007-03-15T19:16:08+01:00 <p>Found an amazing hidden little paradise today quite by chance-- Ranelagh Gardens, just next to where the RHS Chelsea flower show is held. You walk in and follow the path round, and suddenly you are in an oasis of bluebells, daffodils,narcissi,wild garlic, magnolia. The bushes and trees overhang the paths, creating little pools of shade- many are just in bud and the air has an almost perfumed scent of freshness and new life . The traffic, though not that far away, seems to melt into the distance and all you really hear are the birds singing to each other, and to us. Squirrels run up and down the trees, an old (I mean proper old!) man sits eating his sandwiches, a student lies outstretched on a bench in the warm afternoon sun, two elderly Chelsea ladies walk arm in arm along the path ---it is hard to actually move away and walk back onto the Embankment towards home. London is so full of these magical surprises. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/15/spring_is_all_around~1911116/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-14:/2007/03/14/so_no_more_canteen_food_never_thought_i_~1903729/RetiringGracefully2007-03-14T16:45:26+01:002007-03-14T16:45:26+01:00 <p>No more office, no more canteen --the problem of what to prepare for lunch EVERY DAY from now until FOR EVER looms large -- unless a dear friend coaxes me out for a curry -- We are getting it down to a fine art though-- six sandwich mixes for six days -- (then good old fish and chips or whatever on the remaining day) -- so, the five mixes are<br> 1 the obvious one, egg mayo with a few capers added<br> 2 celery, cheese, spring onion, mayo/ plain yoghurt mix<br> 3 chicken and bacon + parsley and mayo - a bit more work this one because you have to poach the chicken breast and crinkly fry the bacon before chopping finely- delicious though.<br> 4 tuna mayonaise plus capers and horse radish.<br> 5 Avocado, chilli paste, lemon juice,onion, tomato.<br> 6 Sardines,or smoked macarel, boned, + lemon juice and cream cheese.<br> This does make getting lunch seem less of a bore -- there are so many meals to prepare once you are at home all the time - not something I ever thought about before! And whilst I love cooking, it is the everyday inspiration that I lack sometimes-- </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/14/so_no_more_canteen_food_never_thought_i_~1903729/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-13:/2007/03/13/doddery_old_bastard_i_am_not~1898403/RetiringGracefully2007-03-13T19:33:23+01:002007-03-13T19:33:23+01:00 <p>OK, so I know I drive around a bit during the day, and I have a shock of grey hair , and maybe I even stoop a TINY bit but---I went to fill up our pc environmentally - friendly mini at the garage today, and after I had paid, I decided to have a quick pee there (slight problem that one needs to go asap sometimes---) Got back out to the fore-court and the man in the car behind me got out and nearly shook me as he said,shaking all over, "You've made me late meeting my friends, you doddery old bastard---". The thing is, he was at least 15 years older than me , balding, 20 cms shorter than me -- talk about road-rage - vermillion in the face. I had made him late by 5 minutes max. I thought about saying, "well, I've done your friends a favour really" but I didn't, merely got back in the car with a gentle smile and drove off--- but it got me thinking--- AM I a doddery old bastard? Just because I am newly retired, does that mean I now join the ranks of pensioners with whom I have to share this doddery old bastard image?- Over my dead body thankyou. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/13/doddery_old_bastard_i_am_not~1898403/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-12:/2007/03/12/sitting_at_a_cafe_in_soho~1890431/RetiringGracefully2007-03-12T13:24:20+01:002007-03-12T13:24:20+01:00 <p>So, we are now going to be moving into the centre of town in the forseeable future--Saturday we went to Berwick Street market and bought avocados, artichokes, figs, coriander, then on to Camiso's for proscioutto (the best in town!)fresh ravioli, parmesan reggiano and rustic bread -- then , with our shopping in proper soft plastic bags (definitely non-recyclable but hey, just the once--and we re-use them as rubbish bags anyway), we sat down at a little cafe in the afternoon sun and had cappucinos with loads of chocolate sprinkled on them and a slice of the most delicious orange cake ever-- a sort of pannetone with an orange custard running through it --- the sun shone down, people ambled by-- it was such a simple pleasure! (Though of course still the best time to walk through Soho is before 11.00am when everything is just waking up, the pavements are wet from the hoses, the smell of coffee is round every corner and day is beginning- pure magic! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/12/sitting_at_a_cafe_in_soho~1890431/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-03:/2007/03/03/happiness_is_fish_and_chips_even_without~1841573/RetiringGracefully2007-03-03T22:01:35+01:002007-03-03T22:01:35+01:00 <p>So here we are on a Saturday night, waves lashing at the window, wind howling around the building, no lights visible our side of the harbour, fish and chips (with N0 mushy peas -not available at either pub!)- how different to the polite dinner parties we have attended in the past!!- Saturday night's mandatory invitation - chat about schools, house prices, restaurants, schools, houseprices, restaurants---etc etc -- this is still the stuff of dinner party conversation according to certain newspaper columnists so nothing changes - except WE have--it is no longer so important - art, music, books become increasingly relevant- things that touch the soul as opposed to the pocket - and it is a really positive development!! So, no money saved in the past few days, but not much gone out either - except £12 for two fish and one chips---??? But, life feels good and positive and the constant reminder that there are beautiful things to see - watching the waves, listening to the wind, feeling the rain - the idea of an idyllic tropical island or South Africa (where, currently, 3 sets of more oppulent friends are visiting) really doesn't feel as good as being here at this moment in time! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/03/happiness_is_fish_and_chips_even_without~1841573/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-03-02:/2007/03/02/every_cloud_has_a_silver_lining~1836508/RetiringGracefully2007-03-02T22:54:21+01:002007-03-02T22:54:21+01:00 <p>Bent double against the wind and rain, high above the sea on the coastal path, reviewing the past 2 months- an eye-opener of mega proportions. No one ever prepares you for this eventuality= being cast out from the bosom of your working life - not on the scrap heap exactly but desperately needing to search for the next achievable goal -- so , there we were, striding along, thinking, wondering, beating off the rain ---and then the sun cam out from behind a cloud--- and it was like magic -- everything brightened magically - the whole sea was shot with a silver light -- the clouds literally glimmered-- and we thought, "this is the most beautiful moment--- " - what price can you put on that? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/03/02/every_cloud_has_a_silver_lining~1836508/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-02-28:/2007/02/28/dressing_down_but_not_defeated~1820477/RetiringGracefully2007-02-28T13:27:47+01:002007-02-28T13:27:47+01:00 <p>With our current saving at £794,I must mention outlet shops. This is a fantastic way of keeping yourself(or more likely, your partner/wife) well-dressed on a small budget. One of the most well-known is probably Bicester Village near Oxford-- huge, rambling shopping centre where all sorts of designer and well-known labels are half price or less- you do extra well if you are a size 10 or less so I am told --mind you, I then go and buy some reconditioned B and O sound system and Bang go our savings! Another less well-known place is Peruvian Connections in Henley, also an outlet shop. Since their clothes do not alter radically from one year to the next, it is possible to pick up absolute bargains and no one will know,say,£60 was paid for a £140 skirt because it was in last year's colours(if that matters to you--!!) The clothes are absolutely beautiful in a classic sort of way- perfect to mix with a little something from Primart, I'm told. Money saved there easily £150, total so far £944! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/02/28/dressing_down_but_not_defeated~1820477/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-02-27:/2007/02/27/good_luck_to_the_snowy_haired_tightly_pe~1815795/RetiringGracefully2007-02-27T17:55:55+01:002007-02-27T17:57:34+01:00 <p>Well, I take it all back after seeing photos of that snowy-haired tight permed oap (see blog5) standing up against council tax. You suddenly realize what it is going to be like-- got a statement of a pension maturing shortly- last year it was worth over £3,000, this year it is down to £2,800 - and all those city people are spending their bonuses out of our savings -- am beginning to feel a bit like a grumpy old man-- reality is starting to bite as we realize our forthcoming pensions will never ever keep pace with inflation/council tax/electricity/phonebills/- name one useful thing that has come down in price and stayed down-- this blog is not about being depressed about retiring but i really do back these older people standing up for their beliefs - we may well end up doing the same --it is just that they are only 10 years older than us and yet look 20 years our seniors-- but that is probably just my wishful thinking! Ah well, back to thinking how to retire gracefully--- </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/02/27/good_luck_to_the_snowy_haired_tightly_pe~1815795/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-02-26:/2007/02/26/retiring_gracefully_is_easier_in_cornwal~1809669/RetiringGracefully2007-02-26T18:54:55+01:002007-02-26T18:55:49+01:00 <p>Life suddenly drops down a notch as we stay in Cornwall for a few days. The sirens are replaced by seagulls- the traffic hum by the waves . Here you actually feel and smell and see the seasons- in London it is quite weird at times--living where we do in London,we don't see any trees to speak of, or any wild life- the best things are the sunsets over the river in summer! We say hello to almost everybody in the village and slot into place- maybe it is because many people down here are finding alternative life styles, developing new ways of living -nobody sees the need to rush around-- maybe we should do the same --BUT-- we love London, always have, always shall, so it would be a difficult choice to make -- The air just smells so good here, the light is so clear, it doesn't feel wrong just to sit and read a book, or go for a cliff walk , the days go by so quickly --how can we do so little here compared with London, and still not have enough time in each day?! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/02/26/retiring_gracefully_is_easier_in_cornwal~1809669/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-02-23:/2007/02/23/windsheeters_perms_and_sensible_shoes_or~1793651/RetiringGracefully2007-02-23T20:04:13+01:002007-02-23T20:04:13+01:00 <p>Is there a day when suddenly we acquire waterproof jackets, extra-width comfortabel slip-ons, and Liz finds her hair sports a tight white perm? We turn up to see a National Trust House or the Dulwich Art Gallery on a week day, and we seem to be surrounded by senior people eating their proper old-fashioned sandwiches very slowly, accompanied by a flask of tea- no ciabattas or lattes here for sure. We  constantly appear to be the youngest people there by far---where are all the new retirees? Why do we always seem to be in the minority? Admittedly it is better at the Tate, and we did see a very very elderly lady in a most wonderful pair of vivid peacock blue velvet trousers- nearly stopped her to ask where she had aquired them--.<br> No wonder one of our friends refuses to use his bus-pass on the grounds he doesnt want anyone to think he is over 60--- we pointed out that his pass is exactly like an oyster card so he doesn't need to let anyone see it--  he can't really be so rich he doesn't need the free travel which we shall also be enjoying  in a few months time.  That will be a real saving of more than £250 a year, bringing our total so far to £794! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/02/23/windsheeters_perms_and_sensible_shoes_or~1793651/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk,2007-02-22:/2007/02/22/12_things_there_are_time_to_do_now~1784541/RetiringGracefully2007-02-22T11:10:51+01:002007-02-22T11:26:57+01:00 <p>1 Time to get magimix mended( it has been broken for 2 years)<br> 2 Time to shop for fresh food every day.<br> 3 Time to stretch out in the February sun and relish it.<br> 4 Time to iron (unfortunately, says Liz).<br> 5 Time to peel mushrooms and grapes ( 70s literary allusion---)<br> 6 Time to read The God Delusion, (and then perhaps A Brief history--)<br> 7 Time to replace the lightbulb in the side light (broken for 6 months)<br> 8 Time to visit parents and actually enjoy their company instead of always needing to    rush back home.<br> 9 Time to start learning conversational Chinese--- maybe not--<br> 10 Time to make marmalade (see blog 2)<br> 11 Time to walk in London parks during the week when they are blissfully empty<br> 12 Time to mull over money-saving web sites like confused.com which yesterday saved us over £100 on our current car insurance,so total ammount saved so far stands at atleast £544 (now including oyster card savings from blog1's trip to Hamstead Heath)  : not bad for 4 days!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://retiringgracefully.blog.co.uk/2007/02/22/12_things_there_are_time_to_do_now~1784541/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>