Tag Archives: Countdown

15 More Saturdays

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I think I now have 15 more Saturdays left to work. It’s not many. However, where I was dreading the countdown a few weeks ago, it now can’t come fast enough.

I’m probably a bit of a letdown to my family with this, because one of my grandfathers worked on after retirement, as did my father.  My father carried on full time until he was 67 and then started his own business, which he ran until he was well into his 70s. He did this because he had no hobbies (apart from working), which is something I always said I would not allow to happen.

One of the things I am aware of is that my other grandfather had to retire early with Parkinson’s Disease, and my mother started with it in her early 70s. There is little point saving enjoyment for some future time if I may become too ill to enjoy it. My mother got very cross with me once when I said I ws going to wait until I retired before doing something. I can’t remember what it was, and I still haven’t done it, but I am aware of the general principle.

I’m not thinking of getting Parkinson’s, just using it as an example. My cousin, a GP, tells me that as far as they know, it isn’t hereditary, it’s just quite common. I don’t really need Parkinson’s as I have enough to be going on with as it is. I’m still coming to terms with arthritis, which was a bit of a surprise when it happened.

I had a letter yesterday inviting me to apply for my State Pension. I may have mentioned it. I forget things these days. Things are getting closer.

Tomorrow I am going to make a list of everything I need to do to move house. It is going to be a lot longer than I think. These things always are.

I have subscriptions to half a dozen poetry magazines, so that’s six addresses I will have to change. I’m in three poetry societies. RSPB, Wildlife Trust . . .

That’s a lot of letters. That’s why I used the P id for Postbox 10p coin as a header picture. I used the sunrise for the end picture as I like it.

And yes, it’s likely that next week’s post will be 14 More Saturdays. Once you find a winning formula you may as well stick with it.

 

 

The Final Countdown

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Yes, it’s a song title today. I did think of a variation on the TV show Countdown but at 58 I’m not ready to admit that I’m part of the Countdown demographic. (See later comments on age).

I bought a new knife today. I’ve been meaning to get a proper boning knife for some time and the one I spotted in the cash and carry had all the attributes I wanted – a good handle and a cheap price ranking higher than the quality of the blade. I don’t tend to wear knives out – they simply disappear (thrown away by family members, I suspect, as I never lost a knife before I was married) or get left on top of a cooker ring. Yes, I’ve destroyed a couple of good knives like that. I suppose I could build a new handle from exotic hardwood as recommended in various specialist magazine, but I’m really not that good with my hands.

From the cash and carry (having bought drinks and snacks for the party tomorrow) I went to the supermarket to buy the rest of the stuff we needed.  It was stressful, as the nearest supermarket to the cash and carry isn’t one I normally go to and it was crammed with coffin dodgers all doing their best to either get in my way or ram me out of their way.

Now, I don’t mind the former (in moderation) as we all dawdle a bit, but the latter drives me mad. If I responded in kind, with a quick flick of the trolley and a spot of wheel to wheel charioteering I would (rightly) be castigated as a hooligan and a bully, but give me a cardigan and a blue rinse and I’m instantly allowed to carry on like Genghis Khan. I was actually rammed by a shopping scooter on Saturday when a woman of only middling years decided she wanted the space I was occupying.

Mentally I dragged her off the scooter and gave her a good kicking. But in real life I just moved, with a subdued “Tch!” to indicate disapproval.

 

I’m off to cut cabbage for the coleslaw now.

It’s nineteen hours until the party starts and twenty five hours until the project closes.

That must mean it’s also twenty five hours until my new life begins.

Seems a good time for a poem, and as Dylan Thomas conveniently died over 60 years ago I think I’m right in say he’s out of copyright so I can quote it in full.

Tomorrow, I will be blogging in a more kindly and cheerful manner.

🙂

Do not go gentle into that good night

Dylan Thomas, 1914 – 1953

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.