The second post of the day. This is the first. I must be getting better. On the other hand, I’m not that much better as some writing and a little physical activity (very little!) has left me feeling quite tired. I have walked to the kitchen and back a couple of times, lifted a couple of cups of tea and walked round the car talking to the man who came to change my tyre.
Yes, it’s got to the stage where I can no longer change a tyre for myself. It first happened few years ago when we were visiting the Lakes. I managed most of it, but the actual getting up off the floor was a bit tricky. Since then I have used my breakdown insurance a couple of times to have tyres changed. They don’t seem to mind, though I expect it will be reflected in the price somewhere along the line.
And then, according to WP, ten hours passed.
Julia returned in that time. We both fell asleep in front of the TV. We looked at the floods on the news and agreed it was a good thing that we lived on a hill rather than the side of the Trent. Generally speaking it was a dress rehearsal for retirement. I’m sure I could get used to this.
Unfortunately it was spoilt by my lack of energy. She has looked after me all through the holidays as I have lain there like a beached whale, and she hasn’t had a lot of rest. Despite my good intentions today, I was unable to do anything useful in the kitchen and I am now feeling guilty. I really must look at some recipes and try to do some cooking tomorrow, even if it is just vegetable stew.
I could even use some of the veg to make a hash tomorrow night, have the others as stew on Wednesday night and then make soup from anything that remains.
Is this what old age is – an inability to change your own tyres and the need to plan in advance for a simple stew?



I can certainly agree that being unable to change a tyre comes with old age. I was embarrassed today when the garage asked what type my tyre was when I phoned for a replacement and I couldn’t read the tyre number in the dim morning light.
That is something I have to do tomorrow when I order my replacement. I could have done it today but din’t feel like the bending and the juggling with glasses.
Change always seems to require an adjustment period. You will work through it, and come out the other side.
And then look back on it and realise it wasn’t worth the worry. 🙂
Sounds familiar, Quercus, my friend
It took Richard quite a time to get used to being retired. He didn’t miss going to work at all and for the first few months hardly did a thing. Eventually he began to feel that he ought to be doing something but couldn’t decide what that something was. He is fine now and keeps himself busy doing what he wants to do in his own time.
I think you are partly right about old age. Planning and preparing is important and realising that there are times when we need to ask for help (tyre changes, ladder climbing, heavy lifting for example) and we shouldn’t feel any shame in this. We are looking after ourselves properly and employing someone who needs the money/work to do a job for us and will probably do a better job than we could do.
I’m sure I am going to enjoy it, but I won’t enjoy all the initial changes and reorganisation. However, I now have an extra six months to get myself organised.
One of the frightening things is the lack of excuses – I can no longer claim lack of time as a reason for not doing things. 🙂