RETIREMENT: WHERE IS THE TIME TO GET BORED?

31/08/2009    Day six, retirement
Today is a last public holiday in UK. When you are working this long weekend holds a very special place in your psyche. It is the last holiday before Christmas. It reminds that summer is about to end and whatever you have planned to do this summer—DIY, go on to the beach, go to Paris, visit mother in law (as if ) whatever, better do it now. It somehow creates a sense of urgency with an impending doom that summer is about to end. Anyway why am I thinking like that now that I am retired? Old habits die hard!
We did go to DIY store, bought some gardening stuff and looked at tiles for the bathroom. Plan to go to countryside for a long walk and picnic with a friend was cancelled, thanks to the weather. It was forecasted that it will be a sunny bank holiday but Nature, by nature is unpredictable. So it was all indoor activities for the last three days.
Went to Vermillion, a designer Asian restaurant. Good food and excellent service but felt a bit crowded. What else do you expect on a weekend! We had a fusion cuisine Thai and Indian. Did it work? I think so. But like in any successful marriage there were a few discordant but amicable notes. Overall it was a pleasant evening.
As I told you before I am reading "the last theorem" by A.C.Clarke. I came across an interesting fact. You can express any even number as a sum of two prime numbers. Like say 18. It is sum of 7 and 11. As you know prime numbers are not that common. So I did not first believe this but I checked with my calculator and it is true. Amazing, isn't it.
Well, it is getting late. Good night

JOYS OF RETIREMENT: BUS PASS

28/8/09day three, retirement


Got an application form for the over 60 bus pass. Greater Manchester public transport has got all application forms for different types of passes at their web site but not this one. World Wide Web has got zillions of things but why- o -why, not the one you are looking for. When you are looking for prime ministers in UK you will find a lot of materials on presidents in US and vice versa! Probably it is just me moaning.

I have filled the form and got copies of identity documents but I could not post it today as I have not a passport size photograph. I do not like having a photo taken in those claustrophobic dr who type cubicles. Whole set up feels very doggy a bit like peep show booths at sea sides. One consolation is that the machines are bit better now. Few years ago I had to take at least three sets of photos before getting one acceptable set.

I like my car and I am not a bus person at least that is true when I am in UK. In Europe I always use public transport. I kind of feel threatened in the taxies and certainly they are dearer. Bus pass may be the incentive that will make me a bit greener and encourage me to venture on UK buses.

The weather has again been dismal to day, rain and wind; did not dare to do any gardening. Hopefully it will be better tomorrow.

Good night

day two, retirement

27/8/09
It has been cloudy and windy today in Manchester.
As I said yesterday I planned to do an hour of simple yoga exercises and meditation. I started in good faith at 9 am. Yes, I know it is kind of late but if I still have to get up by alarm, what is the fun in being retired!
About halfway through the yoga, I suddenly remembered I had to ring the finance department to clear some discrepancies in calculations of my pension (between theirs and mine). As a good citizen it was my duty to alert them. Would I be so eager if my estimate was not higher! Thank god, I was not given that choice to test my morality.
Anyway I could not concentrate on my breathing and I had to abort from my lotus position and pick up the phone. It was answered by the now omnipresent machines giving zillions of options. Finally managed to get the attention of a Homo sapiens and the matter was amicably sorted out in only a fraction of time that I dreaded it would take.
Rest of the day passed quickly, it does when you have got a nice novel on your e-book. I finished almost half the book Last Theorem by Arthur C Clarke supplemented with lots of tea and food.
Saw a film on the box and watched the news. Now to bed, Good night.

day one, retirement

yesterday was my last working day at the hospital where i worked as a plastic surgeon for the last 15 years. i had decided many years ago that i will retire when i am sixty and i was eagerly looking forward to my last working day. but when the day came i really felt very sad. why this contradiction? i was puzzled. then it dawned on me that it must be because i had a lot more good and happy times here than bad. i must have met more good people here than bad. i must have very good friends around me here.
i had emotional and tear hiding farewell encounters individually and collectively with a lot of people who have worked with me over the years. my wife made a retirement cake and a poem, more emotions more tear hiding something in the eye moments.my finally a hearty farewell dinner at lime tree restaurant. in bed at 1am, call it exhaustion and also fare amount of wine i slept like a log.

i was awake at half past six. how come? normally my alarm goes off at 7am and i force myself to get up after a few nudges and pushes by my wife at about 7:30. and to day when i do not have to go to work i got up by my self at 6:30. what is going on?

went down ,made tea for my self and my wife ( usually it is otherway round) listened to radio 4 news , went in the garden and took bath ,yoga bla bla .i even went to cinema in the afternoon and did a bit of gardening. tidied my email and contact folders on the new net book.

why am so active and trying to keep my self so occupied? i think it is the fear that if i do not keep doing something i will just slouch on the sofa in front of the telly and will not get up. though that is what i wanted to do uninterrupted till yesterday.
i have to overcome this fear and relax. may be yoga, starting from tomorrow, see just planning this made me feel better, of to bed now to prepare for tomorrow.