Month: January 2024

Sunday, 21st January, 2024

Didn’t sleep well last night. Dreamt about a friend in trouble and I wasn’t there to help. Had the radio on at 4.30 am to shut it out. It didn’t do the job entirely. It was about the Gaza War. Not exactly sleep-inducing.

Grey and warm this morning. It’s going to be 11C -12C / 52F -54F all day and over tonight as well but the wind is getting up.

In 2016, we were waiting for this house to be ready to move into. As we waited, we spent a couple of months in Tenerife, enjoying the sun. It was unusually hot, we were told. Lovely to avoid the UK Winter. We had sold our Surrey apartment and all the furniture with it. Starting again with a clean slate is great. A couple of months in the sun researching and ordering furniture over the net for our new home felt really indulgent.

I found this Kitchen Table and leather chairs in … Housing Units in Oldham/Failsworth of all places. We thought we had left all that behind. Of course, the reality is that you can never leave your past behind. It lives on in us and jumps up to bite us when we least expect it. We found our Lounge furniture while we were abroad as well. Sofology, I think that was in Farnborough, Surrey.

As soon as we got home, we drove up to Manchester and ordered the Kitchen stuff, out to Surrey and ordered the Lounge stuff, to Bensons in Byfleet for 4 beds and sheets and pillows and then we found a company online who made to measure and to our design fitted furniture for each bedroom. We knew nothing about them and couldn’t believe when I looked them up that they were a long established Oldham company called Betta Living. I phoned them up and got one of my former pupils on the switchboard. I was persuaded. They did the job.

The problem with all this is … everything is 7 years older. We start to get itchy feet. We start to look at our furniture & fittings and ask each other if they need refreshing. I don’t ask too loudly because I know what the answer will be. The Housekeeper loves refurnishing and especially loves spending money.

Monday, 22nd January, 2024

Lovely, bright and sunny morning. Here, it has felt as if the whole ‘storm’ thing has been overblown – to coin a phrase. It was a bit breezy last night but nothing unusual and certainly not causing any damage. Got quite a few tasks to complete today so starting early.

Didn’t realise there were so many relics residing in Middleton, Manchester but the M.E.N. brought me this news item this morning. Fascinating stuff worthy of research and it is held at Manchester Central Library. I spent a great deal of happy time researching in the Rotunda Building in central Manchester in the 1980s and I’ve often toyed with going back to it.

This week is going to focus on Life & Death, on Wills & Funerals. It will be up to my readers’ predispositions how they view it. Is thinking about Death macabre or sensible? Is making a Will rational or tempting fate? You can decide. My wife has always held to the view that she would never die and with a mother who lived to 96, she may be in with a chance. I am naturally pessimistic. My father died at 49.

We had wills drawn up 36 years ago after we had finally received a financial settlement from a serious road accident in 1980. An experience like that brings one to face one’s mortality. We made a codicil 10 years later and then a separate, Greek will in early 2000. The Greek will is now cancelled but we haven’t revisited our main wills for 25 years. It is time to revisit them.

When my Mother-in-Law died, she had taken out a pre-paid funeral plan which made life so simple. It was almost totally handed over to the Funeral Director with a few, minor additions by us. I thought then what a good idea but I couldn’t bring myself to think about it too closely at the time. I have no intention of dying for another 30 years but I am at the stage where I wouldn’t want to be a burden on others and thinking of taking out a pre-paid funeral plan is worth re-visiting too.

Tuesday, 23rd January, 2024

A grey, rather depressing day. My mind is seeking sunshine. It is ten years this July that we sold our house in Greece and left. We haven’t been back to the island but intend to this year.

At the same time, I’ve decided I had to move our Northern trip – for reasons I won’t go into here. Sometimes you just have to sort things out. I contacted our hotel – the Holiday Inn, Brighouse – and they immediately made the change for me without charge.

They are lovely people who I have known for years – some for 30 years – and I knew I could rely on them. The grounds are gorgeous but I accept that I may not see too much sunshine. There are more important things on the agenda.

In the meantime, I am going to spend a riveting couple of hours re-reading and preparing amendments to our wills. It’s one of the interesting/difficult things to consider for childless couples, Dear Reader. Do you want to leave your wealth to others – more distant relatives – or can you make the most of it before you die? How long do you maintain/increase your wealth in anticipation of future need and what proportion can you afford to blow on just enjoying life as this investment company puts it?

If you are 72, you will know the dilemma. Do you want to die with a huge sum tied up in a property that is far too big for you? Can you face downsizing and, if so, when? How long can you put it off? Can you spend your savings, investments, assets on enjoying life and how do you insure yourself for the inevitable times to come when you need care, medical treatment, social care – maybe when you are alone?

The one thing you can be sure of is that you’re getting nothing. I can tell you that now! But, you are welcome to some of my Chicken Chasseur which I’ve lovingly cooked tonight. You really are welcome, Dear Reader, and it will be good. Come on down … if you’re not too windy!

Wednesday, 24th January, 2024

Gorgeous morning. Super warm and sunny like Summer in January. Going into town to buy a load of bras. Well, not strictly true. My wife is and I’m just tagging along to make sure they fit and she doesn’t spend too much money.

Talking about spending too much, look at this from the DVLA. Unannounced, the Tory government has sneaked in a ridiculous tax on all cars with a list price new of more than £40,000. For the first 6 years of their car’s life, owners have to pay a tax of £560.00 per annum. If they spent it on repairing roads, I might consider it worth it but they just give it to their cronies. You’ll notice they even admit that they are Investors in People …. like Michelle Mone (Can’t get away from bras.) but not investors in roads.

I am in danger of becoming a Grumpy Old Man. I had to reapply for my Driving Licence last week. I had to declare I was fit to drive. My wife doesn’t think I’m fit to stack the dishwasher never mind drive but I just filled out the online form and a new licence arrived today. It’s like asking a refugee to the country, Are you a terrorist? An exercise in futility. I always swore I wouldn’t get like this. I blame you, Dear Reader!

Little M is 59 Today. I used to play Hopscotch with her. Now, she’s almost grown up! She’s in America at the moment so I made her a card and it’s been Whatsapped to her. Let’s hope she has a lovely day in Florida. Hope she’s not missing Oldham too much!

Thursday, 25th January, 2024

Grey day. Warm day. Sainsburys shopping day. Fresh fish buying day. Very special day. Sainsburys presented us with a Reward coupon. Can you contain yourself, Dear Reader?

I can. Can’t decide whether it is worth congratulations or opprobrium. We have made the equivalent of 2 trips to Sainsburys every week for a year. How bad is that? The reward? 350 Nectar points worth £1.75. It’s all been worth it!

Today, Chef’s project is to make fish cakes for the freezer. To do this, she bought a kilo of Whiting from the fishmongers near the beach. The sea looked dark, sludgy and uninviting this morning.

I am continuing to read the Wills from 1988 – 36 years ago. Amazing how many people have died since then. Within the next 36 years, we will certainly have died. The conveyor belt is unstoppable. Fortunately, our chosen Executors are still alive although they’re both knocking on a bit themselves. They both have copies of our wills and have had for all these years. Will they remember where they stored them? They both don’t still live in the same homes. Life moves on.

I have to do my Gym work soon but I’m not looking forward to it today. I’ve pulled a muscle in my stomach and even walking was agony this morning. I’m quite embarrassed at the moment because I get out of the car and take minutes to straighten up. My first paces are those of a really old, infirm man bent double in pain. Gradually, I mange to straighten and stand upright but I can’t put up with this. Anyway, I’m going to work through the pain and see if I can ignore my way out of it. Subtlety, Dear Reader, as you know, is my watchword.

Friday, 26th January, 2024

Gorgeous, sunny morning. I’m pleased to say that my stomach strain appears to be improving although I am still open to offers of massage if anyone is available. Had to do our latest tests for the O.N.S. Winter Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Study this morning followed by a 10 mins online questionnaire.

I should be outside in this sunshine but the time has been allocated to going over our Last Will & Testament amendments. Our Wills were written in 1988 by a Huddersfield solicitor and remain the primary documents. We appointed executors from each side of the families and they remain in place … well, still breathing. In 2002, we and the solicitor wrote a Codicil for each of us to exempt the Greek property and land because Greek law requires that. We used a Greek solicitor to produce an equivalent document as well.

Now, I am going to produce Codicils for each of us myself and get our next door neighbours to witness them. They will represent fairly minor changes of Beneficiaries according to some named individuals having slipped off the conveyor belt of life in the mean time and changing some addresses of existing executors.

Fifteen years ago today, we were coming to the end of our last ever Ofsted Inspection. We had been through about six inspections and continual monitoring over periods of Special Measures/Requires Improvement monitoring. It has always been a nonsense. We were the same school before and after. On this occasion, we were damned with feint praise, Satisfactory which the world called Failing.

Saturday, 27th January, 2024

Dramatic start to the morning. The world was bathed in colour. Don’t know what it means for the rest of the day. It was cold over night but is warming up quickly this morning.

My Housekeeper is going to the hairdressers … again. It is about every couple of months at the moment. Still, it’s not the old, Northern way of having your hair done every Friday for the weekend and coming home in curlers and head scarf. Times were so different and we’ve come a long way since then.

Thinking about that this morning, led me to think about Launderettes. How popular they were if you couldn’t afford your own washing machine or didn’t have the space for it at home. It was no social stigma to go to a neighbourhood launderette once a week. Nowadays, I would struggle to find a launderette never mind bring myself to use one.

There must be one, though, because Michelle across the road came back with a washing basket of clean clothes this morning. They have the builders in removing their 7 year old kitchen and making the ground floor totally open plan by knocking out the walls and starting again. Must be like living in the chaos of a bomb site at the moment and a launderette will have felt like a clean and calm oasis. No curlers in sight though. Obviously maintaining standards!

Virtually completed the changes to the Wills. Just got to type up in a Pro Forma, print out, sign and have witnessed. Copies will go to our executors and to our solicitors. Next, we are going to talk about funerals. I stress that it will only be talk. We probably won’t do much other than make each other aware of what our preferences would be. I am going to store a couple of extra strong bin bags for me. There is nothing else I particularly want. There are things I definitely don’t want – for example, any religious content, any expensive accoutrements and ceremony and I certainly don’t want some party. Hate parties in life. I’m not going to change in death … apart from the obvious.

My photo Memory Box threw up a photo from December 1979 – Christmas Dinner party – attended, obviously by James Bond. It is 45 years ago. Do you remember what you were doing then, Dear Reader? All photographic evidence welcome.

I’m going in the Gym now in a vain attempt to reclaim my Youth other than in photographic form.

Sunday, 14th January, 2024

Lovely, bright and sunny day. Much warmer (relatively) than forecast. Got the car to clean but I’m finding it difficult to motivate myself. Feeling lethargically nondescript. In need of TCL. Think I might buy a new car.

Got to take our car in for service at the end of the month. Embarrassingly, it will only have done just over 5,000 miles. I’ve been asking for a plug-in hybrid for quite a while and I am annoyed that I wasn’t told 12 months ago that one was soon on the way. I would have waited.

Our current one is a self-charge hybrid but so much of our driving is short journeys that I would like it to be done on electrical charge with only long journeys requiring the petrol engine. The new model is a plug in providing around 50 miles capacity which is more than enough for a large proportion of our journeys. When I drive to Manchester or Leeds or through Europe, I won’t be limited because the petrol will come into play.

Apart from plug-in facility, it has lots of nice features including self-park at the click of a button which will be very helpful. About £52,000 is the price so it will depend on what they offer for our car but it’s definitely a possibility. You see, I’m feeling a bit better already.

Alternative Playlist for Builders

Bob Dylan	–	Don’t think twice. It’s alright.
Leonard Cohen	–	Marianne
James Taylor	–	You’ve got a friend.
Amy Wadge	–	Faith’s Song
Bizet	–	Pearl Fishers
Puccini	–	O mio babbino caro
Bocelli	–	Con te partiro
Allegri	–	Miserere Mei, Deus

Went round to talk to our builder next door neighbour. He’s a sad kid. Loves ‘House’ music whatever that really is. Makes me feel old. I sent him an alternative Playlist this morning just to wind him up.

Monday, 15th January, 2024

Beautiful morning with a lovely sunrise. Not hot but delightful. Good to be outside in the air. Going to some tile shops to confirm or change our choice of flooring.

Tiler rang to say he would come on Friday so we are going into overdrive to complete our choice of tiles beforehand. Drove to B&Q in Worthing. Haven’t been to a DIY place for so long. When we were buying properties and developing them, we almost lived in B&Q. New houses more or less mean other people do it for us. Thought it would be worth looking at their tiles section.

It wasn’t worth it. The choice was spectacularly poor. The store was extremely quiet and we could see why. Little had changed since I was last in one years ago. Anyway, we decided to stick with the specialist suppliers.

Tuesday, 16th January, 2024

Mediterranean Sky of piercing blue and strong sun after our coldest night of the year. We reached -4C/25F last night and the central heating went on this morning for an hour around breakfast.

Most of my friends are in the North of England and I know in the past we would have gone to bed last night in trepidation of the journey we would be attempting across the Pennines to work this morning. We always tried to be the first ones there to start up the school but the M62 entrance and exit were always a nightmare for drivers.

Today I’ve received photos of the morning from friends in Bolton, Huddersfield, Oldham and Middleton. I’ve checked the school’s website and it appears to be open although it is so much easier to reach compared with our old school which was on the top of a hill. The number of times that I had to get out of our car which was failing to move on the tops of the moors in freezing and snowbound conditions I shudder to recall. Dressed in a suit for school, I was trying to unblock wheels.

According to a study by the British Heart Foundation, the risk of heart attack and stroke in the over-60s doubles during cold periods lasting at least four days, with the rise in heart attacks occurring from day one, while strokes tend to lag by up to a week. Data from NHS England shows that heart problems account for about 40 per cent of the excess deaths that typically occur during the winter months.

There are lots of reasons for the link. Lower temperatures in the periphery (arms and legs) can make blood “stickier”, increasing the risk of blockages forming in the small arteries supplying the heart and brain. And any exercise in cold conditions tends to put more demands on the heart

We 72 year olds have to take more care than the young things we once were. I am so grateful, on days like today, to be mooching through my retirement without snow. The Gym is heated and I can exercise without danger.

Wednesday, 17th January, 2024

Grey and cold start – just 3C/37F. Not inviting. Our tiler came round before 9.00 am and measured up for retiling the downstairs toilet and the cloakroom. Now, we can go ahead and order the tiles. Nice lad. First time we had met him. He used to live in Greece so we had plenty of common experiences to share. He is only 40 with young children and a mortgage and immediately made me feel old. He Whatsapp-ed me later to say he could start next Tuesday if I can get the tiles in time. Be nice to just get it done. The whole thing will cost about £1,200.00.

Time and Aging is an insidious process. I was reminded of that yesterday when Michelle, our neighbour contacted me to warn me that her daughter had just passed her driving test. Thiiren (Very trendy name.) was only 10 and still at Primary School when we moved into our new house. Now she is a young woman driving her own car.

She is lucky. Her parents have bought her a small, starter car in a world where BMWs, Mercedes and Audis all sit gleaming on the drives and often in pairs. Actually, round here, most couples have two cars and then work largely from home. On our Development, we are not supposed to park on the road outside our houses which is why drives were allocated with enough room for the cars.

I don’t know what you think about Assisted Dying, Dear Reader, but for years I’ve believed it was an affront to personal freedom not to be able to choose the time, place and method of one’s own death and to receive assistance in that. Recently, my belief has wavered because I began to see the move that way in the Health service as doctors can be inclined to get elderly and sick patients to sign DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) orders. I have personally experienced elderly patients in hospital have their deaths accelerated for whatever reason. I have seen some dangers which have made me think again. Then I watched Truelove which I streamed from Channel 4. I recommend it to you.

Last Friday, I reported that Rochdale MP, Tony Lloyd, was suffering from terminal blood cancer. This evening we had the sad news that terminal was a lot closer than we thought. Today, Tony died. He hadn’t even been home for a week. Hug those you love while you can.

This afternoon, Dave Roberts posted this from Norden in Rochdale. Makes me shudder with the sense of cold rising from it. I bet Tony Lloyd would give anything to enjoy one more day for a snowy walk.

Thursday, 18th January, 2024

One of those, cold, bright days with clear, blue sky and long, low sunshine. Wonderful sunrise down on the beach.

My phone monitors weather in lots of places of interest and reports in real time what is happening. This was the position of some of them at 8.00 am and it can’t have been too enticing. You certainly wouldn’t be running out in your bikini for a quick swim this morning ….. well, I wouldn’t.

West Byfleet, Surrey	-8C
Middleton, Manchester	-7C
Leeds, Yorkshire	-4C
Bridlington, Yorkshire	-1C
Worthing, Sussex	-1C
Rhyl, North Wales	1C
Coquelles, France	2C
Spring Hill, Florida	6C
Thessaloniki, Greece	12C
Athens, Greece	17C

I do have to go out, though. Going to Wickes for building materials and Sainsburys for ‘stuff’. Whatever you do, Dear Reader, take care. Particularly M, P&C who are flying to Florida this morning. We wish them well and hope their flight is ice-free and on time. It’s long enough as it is.

The Tory Party is in near terminal decline. Even as they were trying to distract the electorate with their Rwanda circus, voters were hurriedly deserting them. The latest YouGove Poll of voting intentions illustrates this starkly. Just as the fringe loonies are moving to the extremist Reform Party, so the majority of disillusioned, former Tory voters are falling in behind Labour. In those aged under 50, the swing is even more marked. We are looking to live under a Labour Government until we are well into our 80s.

Friday, 19th January, 2024

A cold night here. My friend, Nigel in Bridlington, sent these from the beach yesterday. It’s not usual to have snow on the beach. The sea is one of the warmer things in the world and mostly should raise land temperatures on the beach edges.

I think I prefer cold, dry and bright to grey, warm and wet. Apparently that’s coming so got jobs to do while it is dry. Today’s highlight is a trip to the local tip. It’s becoming a regular outing recently. Oh, Dear Reader, see what delights you’re missing out on!

We have ordered the tiles for our downstairs Cloakroom and Toilet. They will take about 4 weeks to arrive so we’ve got time to organise things. Because I have no practical skills, although I can see the end I want to get to – a wooden floor replaced by a tiled one – I don’t know the full implications. I do now.

The tiler came to quote a price and told me I would need to employ a plumber to remove the sink, pedestal and toilet which I now know were fitted after the Amtico wooden floor had been laid. I was also told I would need a carpenter to shorten and rehang the doors because the tiled floor would be higher. Good job I’ve got 4 weeks to organise.

I don’t know if you are as mad as me, Dear Reader, (What am I saying? Of course you’re not.) but I’ve started calibrating contracts, agreements, promises according to how old I’ll be when something happens. When I saw this report in The Telegraph this morning, my first thought was that I’d be 93 by the time war began. At least, I wouldn’t get called up. I’m being offered a new, 3 year mobile phone deal which will take me to 76 and my Driving Licence renewal has just arrived to be repeated at the age of 76, 79, 82 …. At least I can do it online now … until Dementia strikes!

A wonderful trip out for Old People …. to the Local Tip. At leat the house heaved a sigh of relief as it got lighter.

Saturday, 20th January, 2024

Good Morning, Dear Reader. Another day into Retirement. I was reading yesterday of a retired girl I knew in the past who was saying (ironically, I think) that:

You know you’re getting old when you barely do anything all day, but you still need a nap so you can continue to do barely anything for the rest of the day.

I can’t bear that approach. Apathy breeds apathy. I have to be doing things, achieving things, changing things, moving forward, embracing new experiences. Can you imagine barely doing anything and then needing to sleep? It may be because she lives alone but it seems a dreadful waste of time. You can do all that when you’re dead. The sun may be sinking down but the moon is slowly rising.

Talking about being dead. I’m not. I’m definitely coming back to life and thinking of travelling, visiting people, looking old friends up and making new experiences. My Patients Know Best account which links with my Hospital and Doctors Surgery account informed me yesterday of my recent blood test analysis which shows an above level Testosterone reading (Not surprised at that.) and a very low level PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) level. My PSA has come down from 7.0 when my cancer was diagnosed to 0.29 now.

I was checking my records and it was 10 years ago this week that saw the death of a lad who taught Geography in my school. He was only 60. His wife, also a teacher in my school, had died of cancer at the age of 55. His Austro-Bavarian parents were dead and he was a single child. A lonely person. He certainly wasn’t someone who I related to at all. He was a difficult character. He gave his life outside teaching to Scouting. We attended his funeral which was attended by colleagues but not many friends.

I had forgotten all about him. Who will remember him? With no close family and those who touched his life tangentially getting on with their lives, who will remember him? I will be honest with you. I didn’t like him but I remember him and his life. There, but for the grace of Fate, go I.

Who will remember me? Will you remember me, Dear Reader? The Nearly Man. Maybe, even the Not Nearly Man.

Sunday, 7th January, 2024

Glorious morning of clear blue sky and sunshine. My friend, Kevin, in North Yorkshire is excitedly expecting his football team, Huddersfield Town, to thrash Manchester City in the Cup this afternoon. I’m not quite as confident of that. I tried to tell him but he hasn’t taken the hint. I think I’m just too subtle for him.

Here, Chef is excitedly expecting her second Ninja cooker in a week. This one is particularly suited to air roasting. Where to put it? Well that has been/is being solved. I move my wine racks. Of course. Why didn’t I think of that? Actually, it’s not a problem. I’ve got plenty of room to move them but it takes time and effort. I’m making room for a new, stainless steel, catering preparation table to be added to the catering cupboards outside in the Gym/Kitchen/Garage.

The afternoon has turned quite bitter as the sun has fallen. I’m feeling disappointingly lethargic. I’ve done a Gym session but have still got 30 mins more to complete before I can relax. I’m annoyed with myself for not achieving more today. I’m not doing as well as I hoped at the moment. Must try harder!

I’m aware I can be pathetically introverted and self-indulgent. When I was diagnosed with Cancer, it hit me like a ton of bricks both emotionally and psychologically. The word Cancer alone has such resonance in the modern world that it seems automatically existential. The treatment – hormones and loss of testosterone increasingly added to that. It populated my Blog just as it populated my head. I constantly told myself that I was being wimpish, that stiff upper lip was what I should adopt and that I shouldn’t publish it on my Blog.

I’m afraid I failed all those tests and I wasn’t really ashamed of it. Describing things, using words to define feelings enables me to measure, define, understand the world. Words are my tools of life. It taught me who cared and clearly who didn’t. Other than my wife who was unbelievably long suffering, some friends showed amazing support while others faded away. And I have come through it with a greater understanding of myself and them. And I am not alone in my journey. Lord Watson says,

The anxiety was as bad as the treatment. That word CANCER – it truly did me in. I grappled with fears of dying, sexual dysfunction, and even the prospect of wearing nappies before turning 60.

I know exactly what he means. It was never out of my head. It stopped me sleeping and relaxing. It made me crave reassurance. Tom Watson has been declared cancer-free as I have although I am still finding it hard to accept.

Monday, 8th January, 2024

Bitterly cold down here this morning – just 3C/37F and overcast. Actually put the central heating on for half an hour before getting up to give the downstairs a boost. Porridge for Breakfast really feels appropriate today.

These are difficult days if you’re working and going out in the cold and dark but they are equally difficult if you’re retired to motivate yourself and get going. To avoid the malaise, there are some things you can do:

• Get up at the same time each day including the weekends.
• Set yourself some goals for the day and the week.
• Get outside in the fresh air early on.
• Do a quick burst of cardio early on.

If I don’t have a list of tasks to achieve when I get up, I am a nightmare all day. Actually, I am a nightmare all day anyway but, if I’m busy, I’m more manageable. The tasks don’t have to be monumental and they do have to be achievable. Judge for yourself, Dear Reader.

1. Put the bins out.
2. Unstack the dishwasher
3. Read Newspapers
4. Contact friends & wish one Happy 74th Birthday.
5. Start the day’s Blog.
6. Rearrange the cardio equipment for the new table.
7. Arrange for the cleaner to clean the Gym.
8. Receive the new table delivered by FedEx.
9. Do my 2hr exercise routine.
10. Complete the Blog

Obviously, I could do a lot more but getting up with that list in my head gives me a reason to get out of bed before 7.00 am and to get going. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but the days are already lengthening with extra daylight. The Summer is coming.

Tuesday, 9th January, 2024

Gorgeous morning. I’m helping the Cleaner finish the work in the Gym. New work table installed, cooking equipment set out, Gym equipment oiled and cleaned, floors cleaned. Now, all I’ve got to do is use it.

Actually, the Blog today deals with Life and Death. I will start at the end. Yesterday, my friend, Kevin, was 74. I almost wince saying the words but on the same day, it was announced that one of my boyhood heroes had died …. aged 74. He was one of the fittest men you could imagine.

J.P.R. Williams was a Welsh rugby union player who represented Wales in international rugby at the highest level. He also played Tennis in his early career at Wimbledon. He went on to have a sparkling career as an Orthopaedic Surgeon. He played rugby right into his early 50s. He died from bacterial meningitis. And so easily, Life can be taken away.

People who have been with me a long time know I have an ambivalent feeling about babies. I won’t rake over that again but I was told yesterday that I am going to be a Gruncle. No, I’d never heard of it before and I’m not sure I want to hear too much about it now. It looks too much like responsibility. Even so, I do go a bit gooey when I see babies even if they’re not Rebecca-Jane.

The Gym has been moved around and extra Kitchen furniture installed. The cleaner has been in and worked her magic. She’s even oiled the treadmill for me. I’m not practical. All I’ve got to do now is get out there and use it. I’m certainly glad I had the radiator installed. It’s quite bitter here today. Might be looking for extra sources of warmth.

Wednesday, 10th January, 2024

Beautiful but cold morning. Got some Office work to do this morning. Brain in the morning and body in the afternoon so I’ll be going out to my newly cleaned Gym. First, Statistics:

I feature quite a few supermarket trips in my daily Blog because … I visit quite a few supermarkets in my daily life. My Housekeeper has followed the recent shopping trend of researching things she wants/needs and decides on price/availability which supermarket to visit. Virtually every supermarket known to man (person) is within easy driving distance of our house – Sainsburys, Asda, Waitrose, Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl – and we visit all at some time in the year. Probably, Sainsburys is our shop of choice.

Today, they sent me this. Now I love statistics and I am delighted to know that I visited Sainsburys 89 times last year and bought 2,619 portions of Veg or 7 portions every day and 3,943 portions of fruit which is circa 11 portions a day. Healthy or what?

Apparently, I was their No.1 customer for Kippers. Can you believe it? Such healthy, oily fish! I’m going to live forever. Oh, hard luck, Dear Reader! You’ve got me for life.

If you don’t like hot weather. This world is not for you. It is definitely getting hotter and last year was the hottest on record. We were mainly in UK last year and a large chunk of that was lovely. I love hot weather. I’ve often speculated on the Mediterranean countries’ over reliance on tourism and it is possible that they may become insufferably hot in the Summers to come. A heatwave in Greece is uncomfortable enough for the young and could prove deadly for the old. Of course, it was ironic to find this data released in the coldest week of the year.

Because I love data so much, I have signed up to work for the polling organisation, Ipsos Mori. No point in sitting around. Need to earn some money. Why not indulge my passion and make a profit? You have to admit, I am opinionated and reasonably articulate, motivated and I love data. I am a pollster’s dream. Well worth paying for! Why didn’t I do this before? I’ve missed my way. Too busy obsessing about other things, eh, Dear Reader.

Thursday, 11th January, 2024

Glorious, glorious morning. Couldn’t wait to get outside in the sunshine, Went down to the beach. It was all a bit fishy. Well, that was one reason for going.

We had ordered a joint of Sushimi-Grade Fresh Tuna and thought it would be nice to pick it up ourselves this morning. There were men on the jetty fishing for their Supper, with a trawler returning quite late to replenish the fish shop and the lovely suppliers who always have good things to eat.

My friend, Kevin, responded to yesterday’s Blog with a photo of his week’s shop from Aldi. I told him I was shocked how much wine he bought and that he actually ate shop-bought bread. He found that very funny. Who has ever heard of Cheese Curls or Kellogs Winders? Anyway, he has got tomatoes, beans and green vegetables but I suspect most of that is for Christine who is a vegetarian. He challenged me to provide a total price. My Housekeeper guessed £65.00 (What do you think, Dear Reader?) which was the same as our 2kg joint of fresh Tuna. Haven’t heard back yet other than his laughter at the idea of shop-bought bread being remarkable.

Friday, 12th January, 2024

The forecast said that we would be freezing last night. Almost guaranteed we didn’t fall below 7C/45F. Even so, it was grey and overcast this morning and I had to work hard to get myself out of bed. Something is definitely missing at the moment and I’ve got to find it again.

After one failed try, we are going back to the retiling of the downstairs cloakroom project. I mentioned before Christmas that we have a wooden floor and I have singularly failed to train my wife to aim accurately. The wood has to come up. As she is to blame, she is allowed to choose the replacement …. as long as it is BEIGE. We don’t want any wildly bright colours! I’ve told her, she can choose any colour she likes as long as it matches this ‘test’ sample.

We went out to another tile suppliers and I gave her free reign to choose this tile which she did … eventually. The biggest problem is getting a tiler to do the work. Fortunately, we have a builder friend who is giving us the number of one of his trusty tilers. The tile shop say the ordering time is 3 – 4 weeks so we hope we can marry the two up together.

Cancer Kills! It kills many people. It kills people whether they think they are fighting it or bemoaning their plight. It kills young and old. It kills those who think they have beaten it and those who don’t know they have it. Cancer is a killer. So many people around my age have been reported to be suffering and dying from cancer in the past few months and I have become increasingly sensitive to the reports.

Yesterday we learnt that Sven-Goran Eriksson, former England Manager, is reported to have less than 12 months to live because of pancreatic cancer.

Today, I read that a lovely man, the Rochdale, Labour MP, Tony Lloyd, is suffering from terminal Leukaemia after being in intensive care for Covid and being diagnosed with cancer a decade ago and declared cancer-free in 2020. Cancer-free is just a resting house en route to terminal cancer for many.

Saturday, 13th January, 2024

Keep receiving texts from my Surgery exhorting me to book my Annual Review. Obviously I’m far too busy for that! What will they find this time? My friend, Kevin, who only drinks 5 bottles of wine a week and a few pints of beer was told he was drinking too much. Can you imagine that? Whenever I’m asked by a medic, I always turn the tables and ask how much they drink before I lie to them.

Unfortunately, my Carer has booked me an appointment and, before that, I have to submit a record of my blood pressure taken twice a day for a week. Exercise has definitely improved my blood pressure but I also have to take a urine sample which will be pure alcohol. Actually, I have been instructed to stop drinking so I can say when asked how much I drink that I don’t drink at all. Works for me. Do you think I’m missing the point of a Medical?

This Summer, it will be 10 years since we sold our Greek home and left Sifnos. On this day in 2011, I booked the Anek ferry to take us and our car from Ancona down the Adriatic to Patras on the Greek Peloponnese. Couldn’t believe it when I checked this morning but the whole return 24hr sailing with Luxury cabin cost just £500.00 back 13 yrs ago. Today, it would cost about £1,200.00 which sounds cheap today.

It is incredible and quite frightening how time goes on. For a decade or more I have held mobile phone contracts with EE who are owned by BT and are almost certainly the best provider. Before that, I was with Three, T-Mobile and BT. I take a contract for two, 5G mobiles and each has unlimited data, calls and texts. They give me the ‘free’ add-on of free roaming across Europe and America in spite of Brexit. The contract for two phones and numbers cost £160 per month and last 24 months.

Each time I renew the contract, I am offered new phones. The contract is up in May but they are getting worried about customer churn and have contacted me today to offer me an early upgrade to new phones if I sign another two year contract. It will cost a bit more – £200.00 per month but I will certainly sign it. My mobile has become more important to me than my iPad nowadays. We currently both have Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultras and I will probably just go on to the S23 upgrade. The other little person who lives here has a hankering for a large phone but one that folds and fits into a handbag. Got to check them out in the flesh next week.

Sunday, 31st December, 2023

The dying of the old year and the birth of a new one is an exciting time …. for young people. If you’re young and desperate to be inducted into the next stage of Life – Secondary School, University, Car Driving, Drinking Alcohol, Getting a Job, Getting Married, Buying a House – then a new year could bring that aspiration closer. When you are older, the advancement of Time is less attractive and aspirations are harder to find. We have to work at it and control our expectations.

I will be setting my goals for the new year – some I will share with you and others I won’t. I will first and foremost aim to get rid of the excess weight I’ve accumulated during the 8 months of Hormone Treatment. I will get back to my best fitness and even stretch it a bit. I will travel abroad and in UK and visit friends and family. I will continue to manage my investments and add to them on the basis that we have a future to protect.

Down here the weather is perfect – dry & bright but breezy. The old year is being blown away by the new. Up in Yorkshire floods are closing roads and my old friend John R has had to abandon his picnic in Catterick. Most wonderful of all is how warm it is. Here we are at the year’s end and no central heating being used although I went down to the beach this morning and nearly froze my face in the stiff breeze.

Going in the Gym to end the old year the way I intend to start the new. I can feel the determination surging back to improve and do better than before, to achieve things I failed to do this year. It’s coming …. See you in the New Year, Dear Reader.

Monday, 1st January, 2024

Ah, there you are. Welcome to another year of trivia. We welcomed in the New Year with quite heavy rain but this morning is reasonably bright and warm. Went down to the beach but it was so popular that we didn’t stay.

I told you about some of my resolutions for the New Year yesterday. I have others and this morning’s Times pictured one of them. Just as lunatics post images of Jesus or the prophet Mohammed that they think they can see in a bowl of custard or a cup of coffee, so Tory diehards see a face of Sunak in their toast and see it as a sign. The Brexit mug steams grubbily away and the ‘jam tomorrow’ promise sits temptingly on the side. Look at the robin of hope in the real world outside.

In the real world, I’m going back in the Gym.

Tuesday, 2nd January, 2024

Happy Tuesday. Well, we have to generate our own ‘happy’ today because it’s raining outside. I’m working on self-improvement! Diet and exercise is formally re-engaged with self determination. It is so warm down here at the moment that I’m thinking of moving back into tee shirt & shorts. Thinking.

What I can tell you is that this warm winter is definitely showing in our power readings. If you are a regular reader, you will know that I maintain a spreadsheet of our power consumption which I record at the start of a new month. Last month, we used 30% less Gas compared with the equivalent month last year and a staggering 50% less Electricity. At this rate, the suppliers are going to be paying me to stay with them. The other ritual which is performed annually is the Home Accounts print out. This year it came to a staggering 38 pages which will be committed to file in case digital copies get lost.

The South Coast has traditionally had an older and more prosperous demographic. The climate makes it more amenable to retirees. Because of that, it has always voted Tory … since 1841 when Sir Robert Peel was Prime Minister to be precise. Currently, it has two, Tory MPs who were first elected here in 1997. They have had comfortable majorities for 26 years.

Peter Bottomley has been an MP over six decades, first being elected in Woolwich West, before becoming the representative in Worthing West in 1997. He is so old that he is currently Father of the House. Many will remember his wife, Virginia Bottomley, as Secretary of State for Health under John Major in 1992. That’s how old our MP is.

His neighbouring Tory MP is Tim Loughton who blames People from Brighton coming to Shoreham and Worthing, people with university degrees who think Jeremy Corbyn is brilliant. Can you imagine educated people being a threat to an MP. Well, of course you can if you are constantly getting re-elected by pulling the wool over the eyes of the uneducated. These Tory MPs have become so blasé about their positions that they are known as absentee landlords. Loughton is an exponent of the bonkers and immoral Rwanda Plan which tells you all you need to know about him.

Often you will hear the older inhabitants around here bemoaning the new houses being built and the younger people moving in. I suppose I am older but I welcome them and particularly if they are educated, bright, lively, demanding of better services and seeing through the Tory’s paucity of provision. They are the source of regeneration and I welcome that.

Wednesday, 3rd January, 2024

Almost forgotten we ever went through 2023 by now. The new year is already the current, the now. Nice, bright and breezy but warm morning. They can be difficult days these darker, wetter, colder days – particularly for the retired. My friend in North Yorkshire was so fed up with constant rain and wind yesterday that he was watching a 1956 film, The Ten Commandments with his wife. I can’t imagine watching the film anyway but WITH YOUR WIFE? Actually, he did say, Life must get better!

I assured him it had to. He should drink the wine I sent him for Christmas and book a trip to Spain. Do not grow old! Grow Life. There is so much more to life than fairy tales. If you are a regular reader, you will know that I see all religious belief as sure sign of madness. As I grow older, I become more sure of that position. I am not looking for a fantasy insurance policy of eternal life which is why I have to get everything done while I am actually alive. As my carer constantly says, You’re a long time dead. She is a happy little soul.

I have always been happier in facts than fictions and if the two can be blended, all the better. In the Gym, I am still watching the 10 series, 88 episode, MI5 drama called Spooks. What I like about it is the fact that it is rooted in current affairs. Series 7, which was first aired in 2008, opened with an Israeli bombing of Gaza killing 80 innocent Palestinians. I was absolutely gripped by its topicality. Another Series was centred around Russian assassins seeking out and eliminating enemies of Russia in UK about the time of the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and long before Boris Berezovsky was found ‘hanged’ in Berkshire in 2013 just as his associate was found impaled on the iron fence below his apartment.

Although I like to feel centred in reality, I don’t want to go as far as this lunatic. He keeps me up to date with developments in the area where he lives and his travel but this is just going a bit too off-grid. Cold, wet, dull …. not for me. Where is the sun?

I suppose it takes all sorts. Life would be boring if we were all the same. If you can believe it, some people even go to Wales.

As I walk across the garden to start my work in the Gym, I am reminded by post through the door that it is almost 4 years since we left David Lloyd and set up our own facility. Regularly, I receive emails and flyers beseeching me to return. I looked up the cost this morning and our joint membership would be just under £3000.00 per year. We didn’t pay a great deal more than that to set up our own and we’ve already had 4 years out of it. Plus it is so convenient.

Thursday, 4th January, 2024

Drove down to the beach to buy fish. It wasn’t sunbathing weather but very warm and without wind. The tide was out and the beach was empty.

We drove on to the Fishermen’s Shop where locally caught, fresh fish is always available. They are lovely people who appreciate our loyalty.

Back just in time before the skies opened and rain poured down. Managed to catch Keir Starmer’s New Year’s speech and then get out to the Gym.

Meanwhile, Chef has been making soup, dehydrating fruit slices and making fish cakes and homemade baked beans for Supper. Really living the High Life down here!

Friday, 5th January, 2024

A cooler, brighter morning but not cold and only weakly sunny. Out early to have a blood test and then take the little diva to the Beauticians. She keeps telling me it is ‘free’ because she bought a course of treatments. How that is free is only known in her facialised head but I don’t argue … much. Between these two appointments, we had time to nip down to the beach to check the sea is still there. Beach was lonely and all the activity happening far out on the horizon.

Along the beach path are those characteristic, seaside shelters for people to sit out of the rain/wind/sun. Good idea but, they are rarely cleaned and maintained and soon begin to look shabby, dirty and uninviting. Sands and salt spray blow in from the beach and make the whole area uninviting. I wouldn’t sit in one.

I’ve had some weird relationships with people in my life and many of them long distance. I think the pandemic encouraged them more than ever. In retirement, they have increased rather than anything else but reaching out and sharing each day is so important. Did you know that relationships with friends are very important to our health. The Alzheimer’s Society’s research found:

Social isolation can greatly increase a person’s risk of dementia. Engaging in social activities helps to build up your brain’s ability to relieve stress and improve your mood.

I have made it harder by moving South but I will persist if only for my long term health. I knew there was a reason for Whatsapp. It really makes sharing the events of your life so easy. I even talk to the next door neighbours through it.

I don’t know about you. Dear Reader, but I love flowers. I love cut flowers in the house. Had a tall, fluted vase in the hall for ages and rarely find flowers tall enough to showcase it. Found some today and I love them.

I got the flowers. My Chef has gone Ninja-mad. Last week she started to test one air-fryer / pressure cooker / multi-cooker. Today, she has ordered a second one which can cook a whole chicken. Don’t ask.

Saturday, 6th January, 2024

A lovely morning after a beautiful sunset last night. A little cooler but nothing of significance. Still haven’t got the central heating on although the radiator will go on outside in the Gym today.

When you’re not practical …. and I’m nothing if not practical, it can be a nightmare finding people to do the work that inevitably crops up. As soon as we move to a new home, we try to establish a network of of tradespeople who we can call on and rely on. Even in Greece, it was an important thing to do. We have a wonderful, odd-job man for all those little things that normal men can do for themselves but my incompetence means I’m prepared to pay for.

We try to wait until we’ve got a list and then bring him in from Brighton to make the travel worth his while. My job today is to photograph all the things we want him to do and email them to him. Today I’ve got 7 smallish jobs on the list.

Meanwhile, back in the Kitchen, Chef is introducing me to Buttermilk. I knew of it but I think this is the first time I’ve tasted it. It is really just milk with lemon juice which will tenderise chicken thighs prior to air-frying coated in flour. There’s nothing quite like tender thighs. Even at 72, we can all learn new things. I love it.

It’s Saturday. A day for talking. So far I’ve spoken to Kevin, Tolley and Derek France. It’s good to talk.