Enjoying Retirement
Discussion
Rob 131 Sport said:
Interesting story and thanks for sharing. One of the stipulations I’ve always had for any move abroad in retirement is that we must rent in the proposed area for at least a year prior to purchasing anything.
We did that a lot of renting during the 15-years of planning and so we knew that it would be cold in winter, hence the dual location. By not renting beforehand, we did not realise just how cold it could be in southern Spain once the winter sun dipped down behind the mountains.Ironically, we did not anticipate just how hot it could get during summers. In 2022 there were 33-days of canicule touching 40C.
It has been quite sensible this year but global warming is an issue.
Edited by rdjohn on Monday 2nd December 19:16
Well yesterday was fun.
Spent most of the day trying to prevent my previously solid wooden fence from ending up on my lawn in pieces. Having tried and failed to secure it with various bits of wood, this being PH I fished out the big heavy 3ft piece of aluminium that was removed from the rear of a previous Range Rover when a towbar was fitted. That prevented the fence from flying away although it was still damaged.
Around the same time the two exit/entrances to the village were both blocked by trees coming down across the roads. Luckily no one was injured. This was disappointing as were had booked an evening out months ago. Our local farmer then came to our rescue and moved both trees to the side of the road allowing single traffic to pass with care.
So off we went, dodging a few more downed trees, to see Talon the Eagles tribute band. I’m not a musician but these guys were excellent! So professional, massive talent and energy, and genuinely enjoying themselves. They played for a good 2hrs. That’s the best £31 I’ve spent for a long time.
Spent most of the day trying to prevent my previously solid wooden fence from ending up on my lawn in pieces. Having tried and failed to secure it with various bits of wood, this being PH I fished out the big heavy 3ft piece of aluminium that was removed from the rear of a previous Range Rover when a towbar was fitted. That prevented the fence from flying away although it was still damaged.
Around the same time the two exit/entrances to the village were both blocked by trees coming down across the roads. Luckily no one was injured. This was disappointing as were had booked an evening out months ago. Our local farmer then came to our rescue and moved both trees to the side of the road allowing single traffic to pass with care.
So off we went, dodging a few more downed trees, to see Talon the Eagles tribute band. I’m not a musician but these guys were excellent! So professional, massive talent and energy, and genuinely enjoying themselves. They played for a good 2hrs. That’s the best £31 I’ve spent for a long time.
mart 63 said:
Phil. said:
Lovely, I was there until last Sunday.
We only had 3 days down there, as we were trying our new motorhome out. The first time i used the dog trailer and it was great to get out and about.Due to my recent losses with pushed the boat out on our villa rental in the sun for the next 3 months, needed somewhere equivalent to our french home this time as i just need the comfort..
Huzzah said:
Today I received my £10 tax free Christmas bonus. I')) spend it on 1/2 bottle of Sauternes to go with my Christmas pudding.
Got mine 1 December, so spent it to buy a pint down the local.Separately, I think it is disappointing that the age allowance from age 80 is paid weekly not annually, which, after it being taxed, would enable me to buy another pint at the same local!
R.
The Leaper said:
Huzzah said:
Today I received my £10 tax free Christmas bonus. I')) spend it on 1/2 bottle of Sauternes to go with my Christmas pudding.
Got mine 1 December, so spent it to buy a pint down the local.Separately, I think it is disappointing that the age allowance from age 80 is paid weekly not annually, which, after it being taxed, would enable me to buy another pint at the same local!
R.
Huzzah said:
The Leaper said:
Huzzah said:
Today I received my £10 tax free Christmas bonus. I')) spend it on 1/2 bottle of Sauternes to go with my Christmas pudding.
Got mine 1 December, so spent it to buy a pint down the local.Separately, I think it is disappointing that the age allowance from age 80 is paid weekly not annually, which, after it being taxed, would enable me to buy another pint at the same local!
R.
R.
A tenner a pint? Expensive local, Leaper 
Well, it’s been quite a week here….to top our daft investment to upgrade our laptops over Black Friday, we accidentally chopped in our EV (2019 Kona) for an ex-demo model.
I blame the service the week before, that identified the old one needing some money spending (brakes, tyres) as well as an odd noise from suspension. It turned into one of those decisions that was a no-brainer, and gets us into a nicer one that would have hit the “expensive car supplement” had we bought it after April.
Then the young people have begun to descend on MikeIOW towers….another today, my sister joining us tomorrow: it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, with the only downside being I will have to nudge the heating up a bit
2024 Report card: A-
Overall, a pretty good year for us.
Some very decent 'quality time' with the family, although I am still sore that our offspring got tickets for Sir Paul McCartney's last gig this week in London without getting us any (!). AND they also got to see Ronnie Wood and Ringo Star - a pretty unique evening!
Many, MANY comedy gigs, a couple of great festivals, a few decent music gigs, about a dozen theatre shows. Fun times!
Some shed demolition (& building), walks a-plenty, many good evenings with many pals. A month on the slopes, & booked again for next March.
Looking forward to a relaxed week ahead, including the final Gavin & Stacey (after binging the lot over the last few weeks - superb show!). What DID happen on that fishing trip?! If you haven’t seen it….just tune in to episode 1…before you know it, you’ll be watching 2 then 3….
Have a Cool Yule everyone, keep enjoying retirement, & to our illustrious leader, maybe 2025 will be the year you join us
Well, it’s been quite a week here….to top our daft investment to upgrade our laptops over Black Friday, we accidentally chopped in our EV (2019 Kona) for an ex-demo model.
I blame the service the week before, that identified the old one needing some money spending (brakes, tyres) as well as an odd noise from suspension. It turned into one of those decisions that was a no-brainer, and gets us into a nicer one that would have hit the “expensive car supplement” had we bought it after April.
Then the young people have begun to descend on MikeIOW towers….another today, my sister joining us tomorrow: it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, with the only downside being I will have to nudge the heating up a bit
2024 Report card: A-
Overall, a pretty good year for us.
Some very decent 'quality time' with the family, although I am still sore that our offspring got tickets for Sir Paul McCartney's last gig this week in London without getting us any (!). AND they also got to see Ronnie Wood and Ringo Star - a pretty unique evening!
Many, MANY comedy gigs, a couple of great festivals, a few decent music gigs, about a dozen theatre shows. Fun times!
Some shed demolition (& building), walks a-plenty, many good evenings with many pals. A month on the slopes, & booked again for next March.
Looking forward to a relaxed week ahead, including the final Gavin & Stacey (after binging the lot over the last few weeks - superb show!). What DID happen on that fishing trip?! If you haven’t seen it….just tune in to episode 1…before you know it, you’ll be watching 2 then 3….
Have a Cool Yule everyone, keep enjoying retirement, & to our illustrious leader, maybe 2025 will be the year you join us
Merry Christmas Mike and everyone here and I hope all are busy making plans for retirement jollies!
I’ve just finished a project for my farmer neighbour. So that’s me done really apart for looking after his farm bits and bobs.
Here’s what I’ve done this last couple of months. I know it’s work but I’m retired and enjoying the less pressured side of choosing what I want to do. And the money is nice!
Before.
After
I’ve just finished a project for my farmer neighbour. So that’s me done really apart for looking after his farm bits and bobs.
Here’s what I’ve done this last couple of months. I know it’s work but I’m retired and enjoying the less pressured side of choosing what I want to do. And the money is nice!
Before.
After
Am down at the winter house in Arizona right now, and on a side road near the house came across some juvenile Golden Eagles.........
It's -16 at the Toronto house and +26 here, so not sorry to be here for a while . 2400 mile journey ( dog too big to fly) - arrived a couple of days ago, only one speeding ticket in Illinois, so could be worse!
It's -16 at the Toronto house and +26 here, so not sorry to be here for a while . 2400 mile journey ( dog too big to fly) - arrived a couple of days ago, only one speeding ticket in Illinois, so could be worse!
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