Read the first page and it all seemed a bit negative.

I ran into a bloke about 8 years ago in your situation. He was walking the west highland way on his tod when I met him in glencoe. Given up his job, sold the house. Turned veggie. Lost several stone. Same family situation. Walked the pennine way. Decided to walk the west highland way afterwards. He was a nice bloke, gradually becoming at ease with himself, no longer angry, no longer blaming himself and only blaming things he should have done better.

Similar circumstances - an ex girlfriend's dad left the navy after 32 years. Had the finance to support himself. His wife left him rather than return to the UK after many years in Gibraltar. His daughter turned out to have her mum's sense of morality. So he moved to the States, bought a Harley and hit the road. Haven't heard from him since but I'm sure he's happier than the alternatives.

I say do it. My dog (a boxer) died a few years ago and I'd gladly make sure yours was a happy pup and keep you updated on him.

You've got 30 years left on the planet. Spend them happily, however that may be. Doesn't have to be abroad, doesn't have to involve change. But if it does, then go. Regret nothing.

Unlikely I would have said! How would you rig a roulette wheel like that anyway? And FREE publicity - um no, that win cost the casino £75,000 - that would buy a lot of 'paid' publicity!

Actually, yeah, now you mention it - you're probably right, it would have done.


I wonder how you'd 'rig' a roulette wheel? He called his bet placed on the ball dropping into 'red' which the croupier wouldn't know until the bet was called. So you'd then have to have a system that, I guess, could be switched one way or the other to 'magnetize' or otherwise 'attract' the ball into either the red or black slots.

Without it looking obvious too - i.e the ball falling and then not making a strange move into one of the slots such that it might be spotted that it was 'attracted' there?

I'm sure they did it like that in Oceans 11 or some other film

Op, just remember that life is like PH in a lot of respects. You can change your name but all the st you've said and done will always be there!!

My mate did exactly that 3 months ago. Sold his flat and bought a 73" wide beam canal boat. He pays about £2k a year plus running costs which are about £150 a month.

Talk about fall off the system!

Bit what's it like in the winter to live on? Freezing I bet?

That is the sort of thing I would love to find out.

I guess my uncle was in a similar sort of place a few years back. Missus gone, no kids, just retired, nice but very empty house plus a second buy to let across the road. Bored.

He decided to plan a spur of the moment trip to visit friends/family who lived abroad. Me in Korea, friends in Perth/Sydney, brother in South Africa, then a random few weeks in Thailand as suggested by a mate.

He had fun, it opened his eyes to a lot of opportunities I think. He loves Thailand now and spends probably a month out of every three living in a cheap beach bungalow and having a fairly simple life. The BTL is rented out, my dad takes care of the main house when my uncle is away.

Not saying it works for everyone, but he seems to enjoy the partial Reggie Perrin lifestyle.

PS. There are an awful lot of threads like this in the Lounge recently. Must be something in the water

The post above made me chuckle too. Boating is great fun, but not so great in winter (or when you burn too many logs in May!)

I think that's a strap-on harness around his neck. Think back to those reactions...