Enjoying Retirement at Last

We have got a new allotment at last. We've been waiting a couple of years to get one on the site about five minutes walk from our house with no luck. Then Himself had a chance meeting with the Chair Woman of the local Allotment Association, who told him that there were some free ones in Farncombe, which is a five minute drive from our house. A phone call later to the steward and I had an appointment to view the next day. 

I had the choice between a 10 rod and two 5 rods, I opted for the 10 rod as I have big plans for growing this year, plus we are allowed to put chickens on the plot, I would like too, but not going to rush into it at the moment, need to be sure I can spare the time for livestock.

Last week my Silent Sunday was the state of our new allotment, then my Photo of the Week was of Himself turning the soil over. As you can see the first bed is now finished and the potatoes are planted, the second be has been turned over and will soon be ready for planting.



Happy days, we have a lot more digging to do but first we need to get some fleece to cover the potatoes, as the lovely weather we had over Easter has now turned back to snow and it's freezing cold again. I think those four days may have been Spring and Summer wrapped into one!

Since I moved my PC upstairs, I'm not spending so much time on it now and getting on with the things that I had planned for my Retirement. I'm really disappointed that I didn't complete #BlogFash2013 last month, if you want to see the posts I did manage to complete, they can be found in the archives.

I went with my son to an open day at Winchester University as it's one of the five universities he's been accepted at to check out the accommodation, what an amazing place and the rooms are all new and modern. The biggest surprise was seeing the sheep up on the roof, I thought they were real ones and felt concerned they may fall off the roof as there is no fencing, but turns out they are only models lol, think they caught a lot of people out with them.

I'm now so glad I retired when I did, I'm really struggling in this cold weather and it would have been a nightmare having to work outside in it. Although still no luck finding a local part time job, I can't even seem to get an interview. I'm sure it's because I need a stick to walk, they must think I'm not up to it so don't bother to call back.

I've been knitting away and recently started Giant Knitting. I'm making a rug for the kitchen, that's right a rug, using tee-shirt yarn. It's pretty heavy so it's a bit of a slow process at the moment. This picture is my first attempt but I've since frogged it and started again as this one was too small, it's now twice this width.

I'm also knitting one of those retro pleated tea cosies my granny used to make and were all the rage when I was a kid, I have an awesome new china tea pot just crying out for one.

I recently went to a card making workshop run be Jill Spain of Christmas Pie Crafts which you can read all about here, and made a great card of an Art Deco train, it was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it I think I may have a natural flair for card making.

If you are interested in a card making workshop or booking Jill for a session then drop her an email christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com 
It was a lot of fun and she is a great teacher.

So that concludes what I've been up to the last couple of months, seems like an absolute age since I last wrote a proper blog post, instead of cheating and posting pictures with a few words.

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Where Has The Time Gone?

It seems like an age since I last updated here, although I have managed to keep up with my photography posts and Badger Boo's posts The time is flying by and Retirement is good, I'm getting loads done, I've even caught up with the dreaded pile of ironing that has been bugging me for the last 18 months.

 I've come to realise that it was my job that was causing me the most of the problems in my life. So in fact they have done me a huge favour. I really miss the people and interaction, but the freedom I have now is amazing!

My house is now reasonably tidy, I've done a huge amount of de-cluttering and cleaning. I walk Badger Boo every most days now, and we have been having some great fun in the snow. Boy was I glad that I didn't have to drive to work in that this year.

I have completed several knitting projects and have started some new ones. The best one is:-  Himself's daughter  asked me to knit a little cardigan for her daughter, which is turning out to be quite a challenge as it's so small, I'm used to knitting stuff for myself the size of a 12x12 tent! The stitch is so pretty, personally I think it would look nicer in a cream or white, but she asked for pink so pink it is.

I now volunteer twice a week at The British Heart Foundation Charity shop which is great fun but jolly hard work, I have been sorting out the donations and it is pretty manual work, so by the time I leave I'm shattered but in a good way.

I've started a lunchtime knitting/social group in my local area, meeting weekly on a Wednesday from 1130 until 1430 details can be found here, and there is also a facebook group for it too. The numbers are small at the moment, but hopefully as time passes and word gets around we will grow.

So now, instead of there just being chinks of light in my life, it feels like somebody has ripped open the curtains, and the light is flooding in. I'm still in a lot of pain, but at least now I can take it easy when I need too, and get up and go when I want too. 

Life is good now, the diet has slipped a bit lately and I daren't stand on the scales, but who cares? I don't at the moment, maybe next week I'll knuckle down to it again, watch this space...

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Finally Climbed Off The Sofa

As most of you know I love to knit and I love my own company, but since everyone went back to work this week, I was sat at home and starting to feel just a tiny bit lonely.

So I heaved my big fat bum off the sofa and went down to the local British Heart Foundation charity shop, I am now volunteering two afternoons a week to start with, to see how I manage.

I have also decided to start up a "Social Group",  I have lived in Godalming for eleven years yet I know so few people in the area as I have always worked out of the area. So thought this would be a great way to meet new people and make friends. If you want to find out more head over to my other blog The Crafty Cuppa.

Things are feeling much more positive than they were this time last week, hopefully it will curb the Pinterest addiction I have developed since I Retired.

Sadly for Badger Boo his walks with Jacqui his Dog Walker have been cut to once a week, instead of four times a week. As now I'm not working he will have to put up with me walking him from now on. She is a fantastic lady, very reliable and I can't recommend her highly enough, so if you need a Dog Walker in my area check out her website I'm so glad I did.

Popped up to the allotment for the first time in ages to dig up a few potatoes for Dinner, and was surprised to see the Rhubarb was starting to grow so early in the year, so I had to get it covered up and protected as snow has been forecast for this weekend, I posted a picture of it as my Photo of The Week.

I was sad to see there were only the three female pigs in the field, that means the boys have gone to market. It's farm life but they are such friendly things I can't help making friends with them.

So as my first week of Retirement draws to a close, I'm getting used to sleeping late and doing what I want to do, when I want to do it.

This Retirement lark isn't too bad after all...

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Return to Work Today ~ But Not Me

How strange it feels that everyone is going back to work today. My diary is full of things to do this week, but as I sit here I feel strangely odd.

I can't get my motivation going.

 I phoned work for a chat to find out where my last pay slip was, as it hasn't arrived yet. Although my last pay check thankfully went into the bank on time. I went to the hospital this morning to see the Pysio-Terrorist who is pleased with my progress and discharged me, so my back is apparently much better now, I beg to differ, but I've had my six appointments.

Oh and I've also emptied the airing cupboard.

So what to do now I wonder?

Badger Boo is out with his Walker so he is having some fun with all his buddies, hope he doesn't roll in any Fox Poop, I don't feel up to giving him a bath today.

When I say I feel odd, it is hard to describe. I never realised what a massive part of my life work and the people there were to me. There was always someone to talk too or something to do, and as I sit here the only things I feel is bored and lonely, there is no one to phone and the TV is rubbish. Work certainly kept me entertained!

I've tried to do my coursework this morning, but I find it so boring, and do I really need to do it now? I could try to figure out how to write a CV I suppose. 

Whatever happened to the days when you saw a job, went for an interview and either got it or didn't? I went into a local retail shop before Christmas that had a job advertised in the window, I spoke to the manageress and was told to hand in a CV, even though we'd spoken for about 15 minutes. I haven't handed one in, as I haven't the faintest idea how to write one, and the job is still advertised! 

I can sell just about anything, I have the cheek to always get a discount and I have the "Gift of the Gab" so why should it matter whether or not I can write a stupid CV? 

I can't wait for tonight, cos its Stitch 'n' Bitch night at The Star, Godalming, so at least I will be out and about chatting to my friends. Think I'll go and make myself some Lunch now, then maybe go and have a look at that massive pile of ironing, I may even get around to doing some of it...

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It's Official ~ I'm Retired

It's official I'm retired now.

 I'm a lady of leisure, a lady that lunches or a couch potato whatever you want to call it.

What an emotional week it was.

The General Manager of the site I was working at, called me into his office and we had a lovely chat about how well he thought I did my job. He was genuinely sorry to see me go and a few tears were shed, he gave me a lovely card that had been signed by everybody on site and contained some lovely messages.

One of the Shift Supervisors made a special effort to come and see me on his day off, he was laden with a massive box of chocolates and the biggest fruit basket I have ever seen. It was so heavy I had to get someone to carry it to the car for me.

Over the last week, I had visits from several people that I have worked with over the years when I was on shift, some of whom I was totally surprised to see.

 As I took a last drive round site, and it seemed so strange to think that was the last time I would ever take that route. As I drove out the gate with tears in my eyes, I was amused to see that my co-worker was standing to attention in the doorway to the Wendy House saluting me whilst holding the search mirror as if it was a rifle.

The next day I took my uniform back, I went round and said some final goodbyes to the shift that was on, and got a beautiful card from one of the ladies I have worked with on and off over the years.

So that's it, for 13 years my job has kept me on the straight and narrow, I have always done my job to the best of my ability and I loved it.

Over the years I have worked there, I've been able to take some fantastic pictures of sunrises, sunsets and local wildlife, so it was a wonderful surprise to see this Stag/Doe on my very last morning. He/she was a fair distance away and I only had a split second to grab the shot, but I'm sure he/she came to say goodbye as it was standing looking directly at me.

 I've worked with some wonderful people and made some good friends who I am going to really miss. I've also worked with some people I'm glad I will never have to see or speak to again.

The only person(s) who didn't bother to acknowledge my leaving was my employer, but why should they? They had no idea who I was or what I did!

So what am I going to do?

The first thing is get my house in order, it's a tip! The last few years housework has taken second place because of my pain and exhaustion.

Then in January I'm going to start looking for a premises in earnest, it's time to put my plans and ideas into action and open my shop.

This is a scary time for me, will my plans come off? 

I really have no idea, but if I don't try then I will always regret it.

I will now have the time to move forward with everything I have been wanting to do

I'm so excited with what my future holds.