Filling those long empty days of retirement

Monday 25 November 2013

Autumn in Sharphill Wood

I was asked, last week, by someone in full-time employment, what I do all day. I'm sure the pause which followed was taken to be the sad contemplation of what dire daytime TV I've been vegetating in front of, rather than the confusion caused by wondering what day it is and where I'm due next. It isn't the first time I've been asked this question, so I decided to make a diary of the last couple of weeks. I wouldn't claim they were typical weeks, but then again they weren't particularly exceptional either.


Monday 11 November: watched 'The Adjustment Bureau' DVD; did a few jobs in garden; played tennis

Tuesday 12th: short walk with C; lunch at Carluccios in town to celebrate A's birthday (30 already! How did that happen?); saw Gravity in 3D at cinema; Friends of Sharphill Wood monthly meeting in evening.

Wednesday 13th: CAB monthly meeting am, seeing clients pm. Call from Bromsgrove - can I come tomorrow as Franklin sent home from nursery poorly? As I'm scheduled for drop-ins rather than prearranged appointments tomorrow pulled out of my CAB duty.

Thursday 14th: drove to Bromsgrove 5:45am; Franklin OK but not very lively; came home (rush hour) in time for play "The Duck House", a farce at Theatre Royal (amusing, no LOLs).

Friday 15th: met other FoSH at the wood for a site visit with Gaynor of the Notts Wildlife Trust. Got a lot of useful advice from G to help us plan ongoing management.

Singing to the twins via Skype!

Saturday 16th: Off, with C, to York 7:45am. C worked on Mum's new curtains, did some tidying in garden, took Mum and my auntie Joyce to Nags Head for lunch, then took Mum to Elvington to tidy Dad's plaque; Skyped the twins; came home after Strictly

Sunday 17th: rest day - mowed the lawn; did food shopping; Ben + Vicky for tea

Monday 18th: haircut, some housework, blood donor session, made (Delia's) Christmas pudding mixture, pre-theatre meal at Le Bistrot Pierre the Greg Davies at Royal Centre (brilliant)

Tuesday 19th: steamed Christmas pudding (8 hrs)

Wednesday 20th: ASDA shop am, CAB pm; another call from Bromsgrove - Oscar sent home from nursery; now on antibiotics for ear infection. As I have client appointments tomorrow, said I couldn't come

They can climb on the sofa, now

Thursday 21: CAB all day; C and I to Bromsgrove after tea for (planned) childminding tomorrow as Ca is on a course.

Friday 22: looking after the twins; took F to doctors - throat infection, antibiotics. Both snotty and coughing but still lively and fun some of the time. Babysat, evening.

Saturday 23: drove home mid-morning; B+V for lunch; wrote blog; out at friends in the evening

Sunday 24th: monthly FoSH work party - 5 or so hours planting saplings at agreed locations in the wood; knackered.

Not to mention the shopping, washing, cleaning - all of which is enjoyable when you don't have to rush it. So yes, there's more leisure time and, most weeks, not too much to pack into too little time. But it can get hectic, and it certainly isn't boring.