Living it up by the sea

Katiehound

Hi Uralmaid, have you discovered Eric's in Mablethorpe?
 All funds raised go to Macmillan & his paperbacks are 40 pence each or 3 for £1. There's generally a great turnover.

Humboldt

@uralmaid I noticed that you have deleted your posts.  If you have taken the decision to not continue with your diary, I respect that, but I just wanted to say that I will miss your uplifting and interesting posts.  

We spend years planning our retirement; predominantly our finances.  When we finally retire (or semi-retire), we rejoice in not having to set the alarm clock and work long hours.  Whilst some continue to enjoy this new found freedom, others begin to feel that they have lost their purpose/identity, become lonely, or find that their budgets must stretch even further, etc. At this point, some then adapt and develop new routines, hobbies, meet new friends, etc, and hopefully find contentment. For most, the journey takes some getting used to and this is why I personally think that there is scope on the Over50s MoneySaving thread for more diaries that offer an insight into how others adapt to this new chapter in their lives.  After all, each of us will do it in our own unique way.

uralmaid

Thanks Humboldt. I intended to post something each day, but  got disheartened when apart from yourself and Bluenose no-one seemed to join in.  I will continue to follow you.

QrizB

I'm not retired yet but I did enjoy reading your posts. They were joyful and I hope you are able to continue.

uralmaid

Ok here goes - I will start again.  Decorating the "East Wing" all complete. Carpet nearly finished then just light fittings, window dressing and pictures to go back.  Everything seems to take so long. My husband is a perfectionist (I blame his engineering background), which is good but also frustrating.  Only one room left now which is the upstairs study which probably won't be done until next year, plus painting the outside of the house.  Spring is coming and lots to do in the garden. Love seeing everything coming to life. Lots of daffs, crocus, aconites and snowdrops.  Blossom on the plum trees too.  Been very amused watching a long tailed tit this week. A horde of them come on to my bird feeders and one continually flies at the patio doors trying to come inside.  Colin the Crow has been stepping up his efforts to get the feeders off the main pole.  So far this year our efforts at stopping him seem to be a success.  They are all wired on. Last year he managed to get off 3 of the feeders and haul them down the garden.  It is so funny to watch him. He sits on the top of the pole where they are all hung and you can see him thinking and trying to work it out. Its been a spendy week this last week. Our motorhome needed taxing and also our main car. Plus we had the cam belt changed on the motorhome which was nearly £1k but hubby was adamant it should be done.  Called at the garden centre yesterday and got a new shovel (we have various spades but hubby said he needed a shovel) and also a new border fork for me.  Managed to win £125 on the premium bonds which was good. Every month I wait in anticipation for the news that we have won the big prize - not happened so far but have had a good return on them so far.  I live in hope. Have a good weekend everyone.

Clowance

Thanks ural maid. I really enjoy your posts, but what I get up to would be very uninteresting, I still work 10 hours a week in the nhs but other than that enjoy reading (I read for hours a day), do about 45 mins italian with duolingo and generally potter about not doing much housework or gardening as I am basically pretty lazy! Husband still works full time so as he is tired in the evening we only occasionally get out, last weekend an exception as we went to Corfe Castle one day and a walk on the beach the next. Please keep up your posts!

bluenose1

Colin the crow . 

I love reading your posts uralmaid, I hope you carry on,  very good for the soul, well my soul anyway….
I am envious you have a partner who decorates, my husband is too active with his golf, gym, walking and football to find time to decorate and I am not much better!!!
One of my sons is home visiting so just had a lovely long walk with him in the local woods while the dog chased after cones, 
‘Reading Mariam Margoyles new book at moment, she is definitely a character and makes me chuckle, plus I agree with her opinions on the current state of events. 
. 

uralmaid

Thanks Clowance. I love reading too. Your walk sounds lovely.  Bluenose - I have just read the Miriam Margolyes book too. I love her.  The sun is shining here today but am too busy with the house stuff to get out there.  Hopefully we shall be going to at least a couple of music festivals (quite local) in the motorhome in the Summer. Prior to moving to Lincolnshire I was heavily involved with music.  quite diverse - I was a founder member of Wakefield Gilbert and Sullivan Society and also took the lead female roles for a lot of years.  Also we formed another group called the Darwent Players and performed lots of times at Wakefield Opera House - doing shows such as Old Time Music Halls and 1940's shows.  I then joined a rock and blues band  and a Soul band and did lots of gigs with them. Since moving to Lincolnshire I haven't done anything musically until just at the start of the pandemic when some friends formed a band.  The pandemic pretty much put a stop to that until late 2022.  Did some gigs but decided I didn't want to do that sort of music anymore and since then haven't felt the urge to perform. Never say never though! I shall probable be a motorcycling "widow" as soon as the good weather arrives as my hubby will be going to the many bike nights held here in Lincolnshire.  I don't tend to ride pillion anymore but we do have a sidecar outfit and I do go in that sometimes.  

sheilavw

I too enjoy this thread. I decided last September to reduce my working week by a day. I am now 29.5 hours a week in a busy high school. As a family we look after my Brother who has Downs syndrome, I am the only sibling working still, I turned 62 in February so I enjoy a day off a week. He goes to a centre 3 days, and the rest of the time we take him out and about.

I too enjoy reading, walking and tv, I enjoy a good netflix series.

Unfortunately, I lost my Husband to MND July 2019 just under a year after diagnosis. All our plans for retirement, travel etc went. I go away with family, and I have a good circle of friends. I try not to dwell on what might have been. I've been a member on here for a lot of years and I come on daily to read certain threads. I need to make more time to post too.

Dizee123

I loved reading about your garden uralmaid.  It sounds lovely and Colin the crow made me laugh as well  .
We have squirrels that visit and I remember one day planting bulbs and then looking down the border and seeing one of the little varmints digging them up and making off with them bold as brass.
I have managed a day and a half in the garden this week and attacked my long herbaceous border which was still full of leaves and had been taken over by the triffids (aka grape hyacinths).  I can now see the primroses and pulmonaria flowers and am excited that I look to have a bumper crop of alliums this year.

My 14 year old dog had his annual health check this week and apart from one arthritic hip he is doing well.  The vet was very impressed with his teeth.  He has a dental stick every morning and they are certainly doing their job as he won't submit to teeth brushing and we wanted to retain our fingers.   We celebrated with a walk down by the river, or as close as we could get because of the mud and flooding.

I am sometimes tempted out on the pillion of our Ducati tourer, but it has to be a warm day and something to do at the destination otherwise I find sitting on the back quite boring these days.  Going down to the coast for a fish and chip lunch always tempts me out, even though the cost has become quite astronomical these days.

Please keep posting, I enjoy your thread and will try and post more often as well.  I have been retired for over 2 years now and don't have any madly exciting hobbies, but do have 3 grandchildren that I see quite a bit of.  They often provide a lot of unintentional amusement - for example this week I had to work out what the small circular depressions were on my lawn and the little lovelies had been jumping on it with their pogo sticks.  Shame they didn't have spikes on the bottom of them, would save me having to scarify it