Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!

Seasidegal58

Thanks SG2 - it was a complete mess up from me. I mixed up the dates on when I was going to the hair place and a day out with DD - all on Friday. Luckily the hair place had another slot on Tuesday (hence the PT change) - but I have to be up West London tomorrow for 9am!😳
I went out earlier to put out some recycling and it's gorgeous weather again out there!🌞
I had an early Ocado delivery (I'm so glad they supply bags for home deliveries unlike the other supermarkets), everything away and put a load of washing on. I'm sitting here at the moment with my hair mask on. Once I've showered I'm off to the greengrocers. 

My friend is picking me up this afternoon as we're off to see the Downton Abbey film. 

Seasidegal58

Downton Abbey was delightful!  A real treat for all Downton fans - I do hope they make another series or film in the future. 😃

I've just had a stir fry for dinner and will have some fruit, yoghurt and walnuts a bit later. 

 After my hair appointment tomorrow I'm stopping by the City on my way home lunchtime and have a quick bite to eat with my friend while she's on her lunch break.  Early start for me tomorrow though - I'll be catching the same train the morning as I did when I used to commute to work. That'll be a shock to the system!😱

MSE SCRIMPY THINGS
I bought my rail ticket for tomorrow earlier online. It's a bit annoying because as I'm travelling up during rush hour, I can't buy my usual £10 Senior return. Double the price this time at just over £20!

I also bought my fruit and veg at the greengrocer. There's probably no saving there compared with Ocado but I like his produce, plus I'm supporting our last local independent greengrocer. 

doingitanyway

Just caught up on your recent comings and goings.

The decision to stay in the flat and do improvements seems good for you and much less upheaval. You always sound like you have a good network where you are and that cannot be underestimated.

Love reading about your pottering and social activities. Your retirement is the sort of retirement I hope for too 

Seasidegal58

Thanks @doingitanyway!😃. I do feel a lot more settled now that I've decided to stay on in the flat. It was weird - I have been excited over the last few months with the prospect of moving to a larger flat but the reality once I got down to it failed to live up to my expectations. I do think if I was younger it would have been a no brainer to move, but maybe I'm just at that time of life when it's easier to stay put.  Old stick-in-the mud that I am!😁

milann

It sounds as if you’re doing great with the PT 👏👏👏

EssexHebridean

I don’t think realising you like where you live and wanting to stay makes you a stick in the mud - far from it in fact, it’s a kick back against going “with the herd” and the ever present demands that we should want something bigger, better or just different! 

I really wish we had a good greengrocer round here - we’ve had a few open up over the years but the quality has always been poor, it’s seemed as though they’ve thought they could survive on appealing to folk to “support your local independent shops” without realising that the quality and service have to be absolutely spot on too. Same thing with butchers - fortunately we have the lovely lady with the farm shop who does the farmers market.

milann

All our independent butchers and greengrocers have gone. There used to be a long street with 5 butchers, I don’t know how many greengrocers, independent clothes shops and the most amazing craft/ wool/material shop. Now it’s vape shops, nail shops and drunk people hanging about.

Seasidegal58

I am lucky here in that I can walk to my greengrocer @EssexHebridean  and @milann - we also have two very good traditional type bakeries (one a master baker that bakes on the premises) that have been here for years, plus a more artisan bakery that opened up just before the pandemic. We also have a long standing butcher, but unfortunately the other butcher retired a couple of months ago. However another fairly local butcher has a stall at our indoor artisan market that opened up a few months ago and he is very popular.  We do have a farmer's market every month which I haven't been to and must attend!

EH - I do know what you mean though about the standard of some businesses that try to sell themselves on the premise of 'independent' and fail to come up to the mark. We had a few of these over the last few years and invariably they have had to close because they just weren't that good enough. 

One thing that is causing a little concern here though is the number of cafe/restaurants that have opened, invariably taking the place of actual shops. Out little area has become tremendously popular over the last few years and is now perceived as being rather 'trendy' - we have often appeared on these lists that appear from time to time as 'one of the best places to live in the U.K. ' (we were just included as a region finalist by one of the national newspapers that compile a survey every year). This has resulted in a proliferation of eating and drinking places opening - it is wonderful to have such a wide choice and some are top-notch, but you still need a working everyday high street. 🤷‍♀️

Yesterday I had my early hair appointment in London - which entailed getting up at the same time as I used to when I worked - that was hard!  It felt a bit odd standing on the platform waiting to catch the train - exactly like I used to do. The train was just as full as I remembered so things are getting back to normal with regard to going in to work - I think most people have decided to take Monday and Friday as a WFH day. 

The tube wasn't too bad though I'm continuing to wear my mask. I finished at the hair place late morning then stopped in the City and had lunch with my friend. This day has had to be included as a diet treat day I'm afraid as we lunched at what used to be our favourite little cheese and wine place. So a plate of little delicious cheeses and Prosecco later and I was stuffed. At least I didn't need anything other than a tin of soup for dinner!  It was good to see my friend though. She still works on the team that includes my ex-boss - she said he was moaning the other day because his new assistant had the day off and hadn't done something she should have and he was muttering that this wouldn't have happened if I had been there!  It's nice to still feel appreciated!🤣

Today is a quiet day today - it's just started to rain outside but I'm not going out. I've put another load of washing on and did some tidying up and hoovering. My nail lady is coming round later for my appointment. 

MSE SCRIMPY THINGS 
Yesterday was rather spendy - though all spends falling under budgeted categories. Hair appointment, Oyster card top up, lunch with friend and taxi from the station when I got home as I felt so full up and had a steep hill to climb!😱

Today my only spend will be my nails. 

Oh - and I have received £9 in loyalty vouchers from M&S and some points vouchers worth £5 for food, clothes and home offers. 

milann

Your day in London sounded lovely- especially the cheese and wine bar. 👍 
It’s a real shock having to be out early 😂😂😂

doingitanyway

 I love the cheeses and fizz bit too...

Nice to hear you live in such a nice area. No wonder you are staying put