Retirement-Your Experience

I retired nearly ten years ago ,it was November not a good time of year for me cold and dark.
I suggest if you can retire in Spring or summertime it’s a better bet.
I did all the jobs that needed doing in the house and needed challenges although I have two private pensions and old age pension that don’t amount to a fortune ,I am dependant on Mrs. Roders giving me a generous £10 a week pocket money.
So I do general maintenance for three nice clients ,one being a lady racehorse trainer who by the way had a 20/1 winner today......yes I was on.....Its a very stimulating place to work and I enjoy every minute as I know all the horses ,always have polo sweets to stay on the right side of them.......have good banter with all the jockeys........Working in their idyllic garden on a nice day is my idea of heaven.
Mrs Roders still works part time and has worked for the same company for 40 years and is having great difficulty in letting it go...........this could be the year.
When she retires I may as well...............if I can let it go.

So the secret is doing something you enjoy even if it means sitting watching tv all day or being online if that makes you happy that’s ok.

 

As Roders said a spring early summer retirement date is good . I retired June 2017 , but had worked a 3 day week for 12 months . It is nice to have the time to do jobs when you want and at the speed you want . You will find mañana slipping into your vocabulary. We have a static caravan near Morecambe bay so have lots of mini holidays. Really enjoying it

 

Funny you should say that. I have actually applied for something called ‘jobshare’, which is effectively a 2 day week. It does though entail getting someone to ‘share’ with, and at the moment it’s looking unlikely. The deadline I’ve set for this is middle of May. If it doesn’t come about, I’ll be retiring 2-3 months later.

 

At one time, there was an initiative to help people cope with retirement, reducing from working from five days a week, then four and finally three over a period of several months before they actually retired. For many it just meant they ended up doing the same amount of work in progressively, a shorter time. What was the sense in that?

 

Your employer has to seriously consider a request for flexible working / a shorter working week .
Explain to them that you really want a shorter week or you will retire after your 1 or 3 months notice. If you have worked for them for 40 years they should find a way to let you run down to retirement.

Flexible working - what is it

 

NO! I'm not proud of it.

I have now been retired more years than I worked. Thing is. Just as a kid, I loved school. I've always had this aptitude for learning. My first job was in the city as a solicitors clerk. Amazing, even now I can still remember most of the staff. The firm was, Allen & Overy. That small firm is now one of the largest firm of solicitors in the world.

From the age of five years, I had begun my love for plants and horticulture, this love has continued throughout.

I joined the police service and was stationed in Greenwich. Wise Owl, I believe you worked in Greenwich Park. Do you remember the police stn. in Park Row. The park was much loved by Val & I. I still have a greetings telegram from, Sgt. Sid Bloomfield of the Parks Police, wishing Val & I all the best for our wedding, 22.9.61 I left Greenwich for the big smoke and became a member of the Central Traffic Squad. I really loved that job, although my Inspector hated my guts. For police officers, stress is a big enemy. In time I developed duodenal ulcers and was off sick for a time. I insisted on returning to work too soon, I had to go sick again. This called for an independant medical. I was grounded and next I was out of the job, on medical grounds.

I applied to the the LCC parks Dept. Passed the medical A1. Within five years I'd worked my way upto Asst/Dep. Supt. HM Govt. then decided to disband the now GLC, so Ken Livingstone was als to be out of work.

I was asked by the MOD to take up a position. Here i gardened, and lectured to military staff. I fell foul to a long protracted bout of shingles. This infection hit the left side of my scalp and face. In a short time. Michael Hestletine decided my services were no longer required. Welfare stepped in and suggested I leave on medical retirement. Time and tide and countless medicals came and went. The medics nailed me to the cross. One doctor actually said. Mr Allen. You wil never return to work. I eventually applied for mobility allowance. I failed and appealed. On appeal it was found that I had scoliosis. I won the day. So endeth 1984. Since then, sadly my dera wife died in 2010 of mitral valve disease. I have continued to study, medicine, homeopathy, and plant pathology and plant/soil sciences. I am now still miss my beloved wife so much but now in my 80th year. I insist on using that grey matter. Take advantage. There is so much to learn about life and this planet we live on. Good health to you all.

 

Wiseowl & Shiney. Many thanks for your contribution.

I never knew about the Park Row police station in the photograph. Although only four at teh time (1944) Yes I remember the V1&2's. We lived on the flight path to the royal docks and the arsenal. The Park Row police stn I knew was actually in Park Vista, just outside the corner gate to the park. Visiting the area a couple of years back, the street has been demolished and flats built there, no new police stn.

As Wiseowl will remember. Entering the park from Blackheath via the main gates. Just on the left were some buildings that housed the park police office and the workshops for the park's machinery etc.
Now there is a new police stn there.

To the right of the main gates was the Superintendants house that had a 25 yd rifle range in the back garden. I often used that. Then the flower gardens. I have to say. Since the patks went over to contracting in garden staff, IMO so much has been lost. Bob Hare was the super. He ended up being the top man, Bailiff I think.

If ny memory is still good, remember this is from the 1960's There were two sgts, Sid Bloomfield, & Was it Ken or Len Baggit, I did here that poor old Baggit got done over by local yobs. Doug Beeton a pal of mine along with Johnson and Jim Rumble. So at least my memory still works.

 

Well, a slight change of plan. The company have made an offer to all blue collar workers, due to a declining work load. I have put my name forward to accept the offer. I have set a date of 9th May. If I’m accepted, I’ll be retiring on that date, or thereabouts

 

I read somewhere, for every year you retire before 60, is worth another two after that age.

 

That’s me done for then

 

Congratulations Freddy, I'm sure you're really looking forward to it.

I'm in a similar position myself, planning to retire in July. I completely agree with what has already been said on here, it's important to keep mind and body active.

Since we moved house 18 months ago, back to the village where I grew up, I've gradually involved myself in various community activities which benefit the village and I'm looking forward to spending more time on those when I'm retired.

There's still plenty to do in the new house and I'm looking forward to continuing my gradual redevelopment of the new garden too.

One thing I definitely won't miss is getting up at 6 o'clock on those dark, cold winter mornings, getting home in the dark and not seeing the garden in daylight for a week.