A Retirement Blog by Caree Risover

A few weeks ago I invested in my first full-size backpack in five decades. A couple of weeks later we set off with our luggage on our backs. We do, of course, enjoy our creature comforts so, comfortable hotels booked, the aim, in otherwise Race Across the World style, was simply to travel light from one destination to another using public transport and the occasional taxi. We were only away eight nights and, passing through London, obviously spent two of those with the grandchildren. Otherwise our destination was across the Channel at Saint Malo with time too at Mont St Michel. Although there was a period in our lives when Saint Malo and Brittany featured frequently in our sailing adventures, Mont St Michel had always eluded us and as purportedly the most visited attraction in France outside of Paris, its allure beckoned. Despite the crowds, it did not disappoint.  We also spent two nights in Portsmouth, primarily so that we could return to the Historic Navy Dockyards. On  the...

  Sometimes, amongst all the noise and busyness, we just need a moment. Five minutes to breathe, put our anxieties to one side and appreciate the gift of an instant in time. There are occasions when something catches our eye and actually forces us to take that moment.  In my case a cactus that flowers in May every year invariably has such an effect. I believe it’s a Rebutia originating from the Andes, although this specimen has been living very happily in my utility room for twenty five years. With the aid of thick gardening gloves, it has been repotted only three times and appears to thrive on neglect. I received it as a gift and, winding back the clock to quarter of a century ago, would never then have envisaged that this small, prickly succulent would bear flowers, let alone still be on my window ledge in retirement. It can be the little things in life that make a difference.

  I would truly find it very hard to properly explain my absence for so long from this blog. Indeed I can do no better than to attribute it to yo-yoing where: we have travelled to and from family in London. I have traipsed in and out of the garden striving to get everything sown and planted between an assortment of weather conditions and temperatures. I have been constantly to and fro to my mother who is of increasing concern to us all. I have tried not to neglect my exercise routines and coffee socials, so it's been backwards and forwards to the gym.  My positivity suffers and my muscles ache. It's the hardest period of retirement so far. Can you believe too that Little Sister has just had her first birthday? It enabled an excuse for squeezing in another trip to London. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if they lived locally but then it would just be another place to yo-yo to daily. I take my hat off to those in retirement who find themselves caring for parents ...

  Time has passed in something of a blur of late, mainly because my mother had the inevitable fall and landed (not literally) in hospital. Fortunately no bones were broken but there was a lot of pain and bruising. Falling can become more commonplace as we age, hence a memo to myself to remember the flamingo impressions going forward and to practise standing on one leg when performing mundane tasks like brushing teeth and washing up. Some things do work and I've fully embraced the culture of striving for fitness in retirement; putting in physical effort to reap a reward certainly seems to make sense. If nothing else, the last ten years have seen me working hard to strengthen those bits and pieces of muscle and sinew holding my knee in place.  I really don't want to be the person who constantly tumbles as I get older. I do struggle, however, to engage with the concept of potions and pills to dispel some of the facets of ageing not to mention painkillers. Wear wrinkles with pride...

Last week was something of a whirlwind! Following on from the birthday, I squeezed in annual blood tests and a dementia café before dashing to London for an overnight visit. The Youngest has just returned from 2 months of skiing in Chamonix and had a few days free before taking up a new position. To be honest Mister E and I had been concerned lest she'd bother to return, believing she'd taken to retirement life just a little too easily, not to mention nearly four decades early. However, she duly did and we met at King's Cross for her to usher me to the Tate Modern. Ever since I suffered theft on the underground, the next generation seems somewhat over-zealous in chaperoning their country cousin mamma through the sites and streets of our crowded capital. Presumably because of the lecture I received on the pitfalls of taking either phone or credit card from my pocket, we made it in one piece into the vast cavernous hall at the centre of the gallery. We had decided to visit t...

I'd like to say Spring is here but it seems to be two steps forward, one back at the moment as we still haven't shaken off those depressing grey skies completely and had a little snow again only on Friday. At least there have been some brighter hours (rather than days) and I have finally been getting into the garden to move forward with the big tidy up that weather conditions conspired to impede last year. Now, with all the winter rain, the earth is turning easily and I have planted garlic whilst the temperatures are still low as well as moving rhubarb crowns. Indoors, I've started to sow seeds. Mainly, however, I just enjoy wandering amongst the flower beds, admiring the bulbs that are beginning to bloom. It even looks as though the chilli powder might have worked its magic, although I won't know for certain until tulip time is here. As winter turns to spring, it is always a revitalising time of the year, associated as it is with birth and new beginnings. Perhaps that...

  Grandchildren have to be the gift that keeps on giving, but why, in my case, is it always a North London cold that they bestow? Yes, another five nights with them and then another week in recovery. It's a pattern that keeps on repeating itself. Forget all those flu, RSV and Pneumococcal vaccines dispensed by the NHS to those of retirement age, what I need is something that protects me against the hotbed of germs that spread in nurseries. On this occasion, our trip's main purpose was to celebrate Grandotty's third birthday. Wherever did those three years disappear to?  Both she and Little Sister were on fine form despite their running noses. Grandotty provides active entertainment, non-stop from 7 am until bedtime, whilst Little Sister has mastered the art of standing up and moving from one piece of furniture to another, putting everything she comes across into her mouth whilst generously smiling, kissing and waving.  We had a family birthday party where I obviously...