Retirement - Six Months on

Well today is six months since my last day in work. On the 29th of January my Facebook status said:

and it was in this optimistic spirit of looking forward to the next exciting part of my life that I began these next six months.

 Yes I knew I would miss my colleagues and friends, but every new start also means saying goodbye to the past, so on that day it was a pleasure to go out with the team and enjoy a meal together while they, and my other colleagues, at the University were very generous with their gifts.

So on that last day I set off from work with an amazing selection of cards and a wonderful range of things to ease me into my new status as a retired person. On the left is a photo of these on my table in the front room at home.

So what happened next?

Well so far the first six months have been an absolute delight. Some things haven't changed at all: 

• I'm still getting up at 6.30 each morning and earlier at weekends
• I'm still going to Mass each weekend
• I'm still enjoying cooking and eating

Other things have changed quite a lot:

• I am now able to go to Mass each day
• I have taken on the cleaning at home 
• I've started to learn Spanish ready for future trips
• I have much more time to read then I could ever manage except on holiday

Each of these has been good for me in different ways. 

The first because I'd always hoped when retired to spend more time with the Lord, and as a Catholic daily Mass, where possible, is a way of balancing the rush of daily life with those precious moments in the loving presence of the Lord. So now, not only do I get to Mass, but I have the pleasure of a time of quietness and prayer as I walk to the Church. The routine of leaving the house at 9.00, getting to Church at 9.40 and taking part in 10.00 Mass followed by the 40 minute walk back home is a great central focus to the day. The amazing benefits of four miles walking (it is about 2 miles each way, I walk down one route and return by another) has seen me losing two stone in weight in the last six months.

The second because I have been able to spend some valuable learning time looking at the best way of cleaning some of the more difficult spots. You Tube has been a great help on this and I have made frequent visits to Lakeland for just the right cloth to clean Stainless Steel, shower bases, upholstery etc. Who knew there was so much to learn about cleaning a house, the fun of learning something new, and useful has been really good. The purchase of a new Dyson and the various add-ons for dusting, crevices, mattresses have opened up a whole new world of interest, and yes even conversations involving the comparisons between the various models of Dyson and the various tools. This is so much not a conversation I had ever had before that it is like a whole new world opening up.

The third, though not the most successful, is the most challenging. I am faced with my own previous failed experience of learning a language. I get so interested in structure and process that I fail to actually get to the point of being able to speak. But plenty of time to keep pushing on this - so more challenges ahead.

The fourth, my greatest way to relax for all the years I can remember, is to read. On retirement I had a list of over 500 books I wanted to read and had never had time for in the past. I was hoping to schedule 50 a year for at least 10 years, but so far I have only managed 19, though a few weeks away may well increase the level of reading.

And what else?

Among unexpected (or at least unplanned) developments have been the time to read online newspapers. I read articles from the Guardian, Telegraph and Independent every day of the week. The daily e-mails from the above, and the Times, have got me back into politics, something I studied at A level, in a way I did not expect. The, to my mind, disastrous outcome of the referendum has also meant a lot more effort on my part trying to understand the nature of our nation and the future we face.

Another unexpected development has been being invited to spend four hours a week (two hours twice a week) helping with admin in my local Parish. It amuses me no end to be doing the routine kind of admin that I used to have staff colleagues to do when at work. The very routineness is relaxing and enabling, meaning I can be useful but never feel any stress over this engagement.  

I have also been able to engage with other wider faith related initiatives these have included:

• the wonderful NightFever events run by the Oratorian team at Newman Hall; the Catholic University Chaplaincy in Cardiff
• Engagement with the Archdiocesan Evangelisation Team
• Support for the visit of the relic image of Our Lady of Guadeloupe to the Cathedral in Cardiff 

Summary

So life has been busy and fun, there are other things I am sure I haven't mentioned above. But overall I have found the first six months of retirement, enjoyable, fulfilling and like a reward for all the hard work I put in over the years and got me into the position to be able to live happily in retirement. 

When this started six months ago I had no idea if my plans for retirement would work out as I hoped they would. I am so glad to say that they have and that this new period of my life has so far been rich and fulfilling. I would describe them as exciting, unexpected and full of promise. I hope and trust they will continue to be so, come back in a year's time and I'll sure I will be able to share some more.