Enjoying Retirement
Discussion
To answer all of the questions…
Strawberry sauce, or monkey blood as I know it, was a cost option so naturally I didn’t take it.
Good pension for these? I had to take the cash free lump sum to afford the upgrade to 99s
Cullen ice cream? Yes indeed, headed across there and it is lovely, although fair to say most of the beaches along the Moray Firth are the same.
Strawberry sauce, or monkey blood as I know it, was a cost option so naturally I didn’t take it.
Good pension for these? I had to take the cash free lump sum to afford the upgrade to 99s
Cullen ice cream? Yes indeed, headed across there and it is lovely, although fair to say most of the beaches along the Moray Firth are the same.
skeeterm5 said:
Cullen ice cream? Yes indeed, headed across there and it is lovely, although fair to say most of the beaches along the Moray Firth are the same.
They are good at making ice-cream in that area. My favourite though was always Mieles from the Parlour Cafe in Hopeman, though I understand that has now been taken over by Stew and Drew from Buckie. I haven't tried theirs yet but have been told it's pretty good. Cullen ice-cream is not bad.
It's my 2 years anniversary today...can't believe how quickly that has gone. 
Executive summary:
Approx ten minibreaks/long weekends.
Seven longer holidays totalling fourteen weeks.
Step Daughter's wedding.
Multiple days out with Grandkids during the week.
Four cars bought, each got up to scratch, one sold, one accident repair (son's not mine!). RS2000 not touched as yet.
Various DIY projects, including clearing and reinsulating the loft involving about 14 tip runs, plus prep for solar panel installation.
Approx thirty gigs/jam nights performed on guitar/vocals/drums.
Finally got a tax rebate for the last two months I worked.
In between I've picked up lots of financial advice from here, done further research and thus avoided using an IFA which left me more money for income effectively.
I think I deserve an ice cream.
Executive summary:
Approx ten minibreaks/long weekends.
Seven longer holidays totalling fourteen weeks.
Step Daughter's wedding.
Multiple days out with Grandkids during the week.
Four cars bought, each got up to scratch, one sold, one accident repair (son's not mine!). RS2000 not touched as yet.
Various DIY projects, including clearing and reinsulating the loft involving about 14 tip runs, plus prep for solar panel installation.
Approx thirty gigs/jam nights performed on guitar/vocals/drums.
Finally got a tax rebate for the last two months I worked.
In between I've picked up lots of financial advice from here, done further research and thus avoided using an IFA which left me more money for income effectively.
I think I deserve an ice cream.
Well done OS, an impressive list of stuff done in those two years, and is what retirement is all about.
With the weather up here being unbelievably good we got the camper van out and headed out. Managed to hop onto a campsite right by the sea
Then went off to find something to eat, ended up in a lovely bistro type place, watched dolphins and Gannetts in the Moray Firth while our food was being cooked.
No ice creams yet but hopefully some will be located tomorrow.
With the weather up here being unbelievably good we got the camper van out and headed out. Managed to hop onto a campsite right by the sea
Then went off to find something to eat, ended up in a lovely bistro type place, watched dolphins and Gannetts in the Moray Firth while our food was being cooked.
No ice creams yet but hopefully some will be located tomorrow.
I’ve been reading this thread for a very long time.
I accidentally retired at the end of March, though was on garden leave since the start or Feb.
It may or may not be permanent, but at 56, I have lots of options. I’m sort of glad the decision was taken out of my hands, it’s too easy to do “ one for year”.
Currently buying a new house to downsize into and hopefully sell ours not long after.
I always thought I’d get bored, but I have a long list of things to do and it really isn’t getting that much shorter.
I’m really looking forward to me first summer off in decades
I accidentally retired at the end of March, though was on garden leave since the start or Feb.
It may or may not be permanent, but at 56, I have lots of options. I’m sort of glad the decision was taken out of my hands, it’s too easy to do “ one for year”.
Currently buying a new house to downsize into and hopefully sell ours not long after.
I always thought I’d get bored, but I have a long list of things to do and it really isn’t getting that much shorter.
I’m really looking forward to me first summer off in decades
okgo said:
In Brexit Spain currently. Seeing how so many people from our fair Isle spend their retirements. Christ it really is quite something. Pints pre 10am, skin cancer (if they don’t already have lung cancer). Quite alarming stuff.
What exactly is Brexit Spain?Top PH points for the patronising comments on your own countrymen. Admittedly mainly true perhaps, but how differently do you think they'd be spending it back in the UK?
Mr Magooagain said:
My first retirement veggie plot is on the go!
Small this year but I’m going big next year as I’ve just bought 1,200 square metres of land next to my workshop.
Looking good! At my French place I want to buy the adjoining 1500 sq mt to the south from my farmer neighbour, which would put the house back on the centre of the ‘parcelle’, currently 5000. I would plant walnut, hazelnut and blackthorn, which I know grow well here. The field is 17000 sq m and he currently uses it for hay… he hasn’t said no and hasn’t said yes. We are now 5 years into ‘discussions’… next coffee/chat will probably be this autumn. They don’t like to rush things here in Deepest Burgundy Small this year but I’m going big next year as I’ve just bought 1,200 square metres of land next to my workshop.
Had a text a couple of days ago, my UK state pension application has been processed. Just over six months.
A letter is on its way (to NZ), presumably explaining it all - as I've not much idea how much I'm going to get - or when I will get a back payment.
No doubt the letter will get here just as I'm landing in the UK for a holiday.
As NZ is a "frozen" country, I've claimed the upgrade to the current pension rate whilst I'm in the UK - it then reverts back to rate when "I first became eligible" (Feb 2023). Around 30 quid a week more as far as I know.
A reminder that yesterday was the first day of my LEJoG, 3 years ago.
Not the actual day I retired, but it is the day I feel I did: 19 days, average 55 per day, to get from the hills and howling rain of Cornwall up to the beautiful relatively flat north of Scotland - a mighty fine way to forget entirely about years of work and relax. I need to cycle more!
Can’t say I regret a single moment.
Had a mini pub crawl with half a dozen pals around Leicester on Friday, including nipping in to see the huge Renoir at New Walk museum as a brief break from the ale, then a moderately relaxed day to gently hangover on Saturday, ending with a rather tasty curry with another 3 in the evening
Plenty going on. Off to the IOW holiday cottage next weekend which we are no longer letting for various reasons: decided to keep it for friends and family only, will see how it goes. Garden gym from then
Not the actual day I retired, but it is the day I feel I did: 19 days, average 55 per day, to get from the hills and howling rain of Cornwall up to the beautiful relatively flat north of Scotland - a mighty fine way to forget entirely about years of work and relax. I need to cycle more!
Can’t say I regret a single moment.
Had a mini pub crawl with half a dozen pals around Leicester on Friday, including nipping in to see the huge Renoir at New Walk museum as a brief break from the ale, then a moderately relaxed day to gently hangover on Saturday, ending with a rather tasty curry with another 3 in the evening
Plenty going on. Off to the IOW holiday cottage next weekend which we are no longer letting for various reasons: decided to keep it for friends and family only, will see how it goes. Garden gym from then
Michael_B said:
Looking good! At my French place I want to buy the adjoining 1500 sq mt to the south from my farmer neighbour, which would put the house back on the centre of the ‘parcelle’, currently 5000. I would plant walnut, hazelnut and blackthorn, which I know grow well here. The field is 17000 sq m and he currently uses it for hay… he hasn’t said no and hasn’t said yes. We are now 5 years into ‘discussions’… next coffee/chat will probably be this autumn. They don’t like to rush things here in Deepest Burgundy
Yes it’s complicated as you probably know. SAFER decide on the value of agricultural land and he won’t be able to sell it to you for more, officially, so often it’s not worth their while. Plus the inheritance malarkey and even his age and proximity to retirement as it could be his wife that’s the ‘Patron’ now or even a child of his. You will have ‘Geometre’ bornage fee’s also as well as the Notaire’s fee’s.Everybody involved in the sale will know that the piece of land is more valuable to you as it becomes ‘Garden’!
My situation was unique and rare although SAFER were involved but I had helped my neighbour farmer to acquire some other land elsewhere that he had wanted for years so a deal was struck.
I’m also buying a small wood just up the track from us that full of wildlife and I’ve watched it grow this last 20 odd years. Wonderful little spot.
Good luck with the land.
Gassing Station | Finance | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff