Month: April 2025

Sunday, 20th April, 2025

I suppose I have to wish you all Happy Easter although I don’t really know why other than convention dictates. Like Christmas and other religious festivals, it is reduced to consumerist activities.

Chocolate is the function of Easter and barbecues. Neither look likely for me today. I am not allowed chocolate and I’m not that keen on it anyway. The morning has started off with light rain and, although it will improve during the day, it is not looking like barbecue weather. We have always made it the one time of the year when we ate Roast Lamb but not today. It will be salmon instead.

Of course, we spent so many Easters in Greece – every single one from 1998 / 2014 – where Πάσχα (Pascha) is bigger than Christmas and spit-roast lamb was obligatory. It dominates cultural life across the country, the media and on the island where people come together. I don’t know how many actually believe but the tradition is very strong and bonds people in a common cause.

A lot of it is bound up in food. Meat-free Lent is still observed by many. On Sifnos, the Revithia Soupa or Chickpea Soup which is served every Sunday symbolises this abstinence. Easter week sees endless carcasses of slaughtered local sheep in white shroud bags being delivered to every household in time for the spit roast outside in the inevitable sunshine. Looking at it now, it turns my stomach. Fatty, oily meat served with chips. No! No! No!

Monday, 21st April, 2025

A cool, grey morning. Bank Holiday – I can’t be doing with them! I sometimes think I’m odd. (Don’t answer that!) When I’m in a calm and successful routine, I have to check whether a shop is open and what time. I have to wade through throngs at the beach – although not this morning.

I actually wanted to go to a Bank branch for the first time in months and they are all closed. Why aren’t people out working? Actually, I don’t really go in for celebrating events – birthdays, national days, etc.. I prefer the routines of daily life partly because I don’t go to work and need a rest or a change. Some people around me really throw themselves into these national holidays and I find myself questioning my rationale.

And then I realise that I am not alone. This morning, I stand side by side with …. Boris Johnson’s sister, of all people. Rachael Johnson’s old article in The Telegraph echoes my preference for routine. People have told me in the past that I should mark every significant land mark because it graduates the timeline but I think I do that every day in different ways.

I mark time in my own way. Just 15 years ago this week, having driven from Huddersfield via Hull-Zeebrugge to Ancona-Patras and Piraeus-Sifnos, we were unpacking the car of all sorts of stuff we needed for 6 months away including a flat screen television, a large supply of French and Italian wine picked up en route and a glass fruit bowl our dear friend Viv had given us for Christmas. In it we put lemons we had picked from our trees.

As soon as Easter celebrations were over, we settled into the familiar way of life which involved all the normal things of living anywhere but with a Mediterranean twist. Trips to the Bank of Greece are made all the more homely by knowing everyone who works there next to the pottery shop whose pots adorn the outside of the bank. Buying and cooking Octopus (Χταπόδι) to eat with salad outside under the pergola. Tending the garden and clearing the weeds from the flowering shrubs. Walking and swimming in the increasing heat.

This is how I celebrate and mark the passage of time. It may be anti-social but I don’t need national landmarks of time to do it for me. Anyway, I’ve given myself a good talking to and now I’m going in the Gym to do some Stength Work. I have to use this rowing machine every day and I will!

Tuesday, 22nd April, 2025

Out early on a lovely, morning. I’m going for a blood test. Occasionally, the hospital ask me to have a surgery test to set against my home test to validate the calibration of my own machine. I don’t complain although it is a bit annoying. I’m retired and have the time. I appreciate their concern. Anyway, the result has come back on my Health app within 2hrs of my sample being sent to the Lab for analysis and we are just 0.1 apart. I passed the test.

From the Surgery where they took blood out, I drove on to a Bank branch near the beach where I could pay cash in. I have never done this physically before.

There is a rank of automatic teller machines which accept wads of notes, rapidly counts, sends to my account and prints a receipt all within 30 seconds. The last time I paid cash in physically, it was to an real person across a counter. Today, the irony was that a real person assessed my age, decided I was too old to do it on my own and stepped forward to personally take me through the process. Actually, without him, I could have read the instructions on the machine and done it for myself but I didn’t want to spoil his moment.

I never have real money. I have never held a modern note. Today, they felt like ‘toy’ or Monopoly money – plastic, light and unreal. What was wonderful was to put a wad of £1000.00 of mixed denomination notes all into the same slot in one go and see the machine instantly count and recognise their different values, reporting the total in the blink of an eye. It even got the total right first time. It’s not a process that I would do on a regular basis but pleasing none the less.

I am still dieting, exercising and staying alcohol-free. It is becoming such a way of life that I am afraid of stopping. I am actually addicted to my eating pattern and particularly this alcohol-free wine. Had to go to Tesco this morning to buy in some more stock. I have done this since August 27th, 2024 – almost 8 months. I will have a break when I travel in May, and then again with each trip over the Summer. Otherwise at home I will try to keep it going.

I am just trying to keep Life going. Everywhere we are reminded how fragile it is. This morning I learnt of a lad who was in my College but two years younger than me had died aged 71 of Acute Myeloid Leukemia – cancer of the blood. He only learnt recently that he had it. Symptoms usually develop over a few weeks, not months or years so there is little warning and so little time to prepare. I am notoriously a planner. There are some things I must and will do before I die …. unless I get knocked down by a bus tomorrow!

Wednesday, 23rd April, 2025

Had a terrible night of turmoil. Woke up at 4.00 am thinking of people dying before me. Mad, I know. The rain was heavy over night. May be that woke me but I put the radio on, couldn’t concentrate and turned it off again. Told myself to get a grip but ignored myself and continued to toss and turn.

This morning the sun is strong and warm. The garden is washed clean and the sky is blue. I can’t go out yet because Parcel Force are delivering my new coffee maker and Evri are delivering my new (smaller) shorts and tee shirts.

As I was writing that last paragraph, it arrived. How exciting! Fortunately, it is wholly intutive to assemble and I have it up and running within minutes. The coffee is wonderful. Two Cappuccinos so far and they are wonderful.

Everything is growing well now. All the seedlings are potted up. The lettuces and parsley sown in the beds is all coming through. My under gardener has sorted it all out for me while I play with my new coffee maker. Now going out for a walk in the sunshine followed by a good Gym session.

I have been watching an American Spy/Secret Service drama called Homeland for what seems like forever. Actually, I am on the last 5 hours out of a total of 96 – 8 series x 12 episodes. I have loved it and looked forward to my time in the Gym for this alone never mind the workout. I am going to miss it. A lot more of the exercise will be done outside for the next 6 months but I’m going to try the British drama – Succession – largely thought to be based on the Murdoch Family machinations – to help me.

Thursday, 24th April, 2025

A nice, warm morning. Out early to do shopping. We had an appointment at Honda tomorow which has just been cancelled and I had a medical which has just been cancelled and rearranged from a day when I will be flying to Thessaloniki. Had to rearrange them both hurriedly.

My little brother, Bob, who is a seriously good photographer in retirement, has just had a third article published in the Royal Photographic Society magazine DIGIT. Good for him. You can read it here.

Photography&AIDownload

For many years while I we were working, we had private medical insurance through BUPA. I dread to add up how much it cost me because I never once used it. For me, it was an insurance policy alone. My wife used it a few times and most frighteningly when she found a lump developing in her arm. I remember, I had to drive to Birmingham and stay over while she was being treated for what turned out to be completely benign event. She had a couple of other operations in Yorkshire under the scheme as well so she might have just broken even in a cost-benefit analysis.

These projected costs per person don’t take into account existing conditions. I have atrial fibrillation, and diet-controlled Type 2 diabetes. I will always have prostate cancer on my history. My Bupa rate per year would be at least double the suggested cost. We would be paying out at least £750.00 per month/£9,000.00 a year. If the NHS can’t help us in a reasonable time frame, we will just buy a private treatment.

In retirement, the BUPA scheme has proved too costly to justify but the NHS service here is very reassuring. I am lucky to know that, if I need to buy a procedure, I can afford to buy it privately. Health spending per person in the UK is about £2,000 a year up to the age of 45, then starts to escalate. By age 85, the average cost is £13,000 a year. The only thing that would make me go privately would be time. Life is short at our age and I can’t afford to sit around waiting for treatment. A College friend waited two years before he got a hip replacement. Another waited that long for a cataract replacement. I will not put my life on hold for two years at this stage. Feels immoral but needs must.

Friday, 25th April, 2025

Gorgeously warm and sunny morning. This week is ending as the new week promises real Summer weather. Friday already. Going to be busy again. Before that, I’ve been playing with my new coffee maker. So much to learn. I have bought the beans I like and set the grind to the coarseness I prefer.

I bought these ‘cool’ double-wall coffee glasses – a set each for Espresso, Latte Machiato and Capuccino. Of course, they make the drinks taste even better.

I’m starting to work my way through all the different drinks available automatically. There are 12 different hot coffees. So far, out of Espresso, Caffe Latte, Latte Machiato, Capuccino, Americano and Flat White, the Latte Machiato made with skimmed milk is my favourite. I like a light sprinkling of chocolate powder on the top. Got to control how many I drink in a day.

My old coffee maker is going to the Tip today along with so many boxes from recent purchases. I tend to keep them all until I am happy with their performance and then throw the packaging away. My coffee maker has a 2 year warranty which it ought to do for a £750.00 purchase. It will need its box retaining for that. The Gym roof is packed with empty boxes from warrantied purchases. Gradually, they get weeded out and off to the Tip. I am going on to the Garden Centre after that and then walking. See what you’re missing, Dear Reader.

Still going hard at the fitness. Still covering over 8 miles a day. still doing a Gym session each day although my 96 hours of Homeland is coming to a sad end. I have just 10 mins left. I am a hopeless romantic and I am finding the ending unbearable. Of course, it takes my mind off the pain of the effort. Not so long ago, I was at the Athens Marathon which is held in October so the temperature is a little less energy sapping.

On Sunday, both London and Manchester Marathons are being held when the temperature may just be hotter than Athens this year. Bring your shorts and tee shirt, Dear Reader. I’m wearing nothing more until the end of November this year. Mind you, I will be in the Canaries for the whole of November.

Saturday, 26th April, 2025

I went to bed and have woken up feeling incredibly sad. I am sad about time and separation. Someone told me once that self pity was very unattractive. It was said deliberately to hurt me but I’m sure they are right. I think I am feeling self pity as I survey the disappearing time. It is almost the end of April and 2025 is hurtling along. I am 74 …. rising 75. Tomorrow, my Mother will have been dead for 17 years. I feel as if Life is passing me by. Sorry.

I was born into a nominally Roman Catholic family or so it felt at the time. Actually, it wasn’t really referred to (I now realise deliberately) but my father was not a Christian. He was a member of the Free Masons – a fraternal organization with a long history, tracing its roots to medieval guilds of stonemasons. He would put on his black suit and shiny black shoes and his long, black coat and go out once a week to the Lodge for meetings and rose to become the Lodge Master as his father had before him.

I found out that Freemasonry is not a religion, and while members – only men – are required to believe in a supreme being, the specific faith is not mandated. Dad did not go to church. In fact, the trappings of Masonry are archaic and quite scary if looked at too carefully. Secret words, weird dress and symbols, secret handshakes.

Of course Roman Catholicism is just as weird. Ceremonies where they chuck ‘holy’ water over you, blow stinking incense smoke over you, chant nonsense songs with you and talk to non-existent beings has got to be insane.

Talking about insane, I remember once being with my Mother in Derby where we came across a tramp with dishevelled hair and long beard – looking more like Jesus than Jesus. He was talking to God. Because it was in the street, my Mother tutted and crossed the road at such signs of madness but couldn’t see the irony in her response. Roman Catholocism died with my Mother for me and my brothers and sisters.

After I’d left home, I would phone my Mother twice a week not because we had a close relationship. We didn’t. She always made it clear what a disappointment I was to her and what a failure she saw in me. I did it because I felt a sense of duty and responsibility after her difficult life following my Father’s early death. Those phone calls were rarely easy and often combative. I liked to discuss politics – she was a Tory – and religion. We argued about both constantly. One remark stayed with me. I tried to persuade her that the whole thing was a social construct and she replied, Why would you want to deny me comfort in dying? as if she knew it was nonsense but needed something to cling to beyond the grave – another life. A tacit self-delusion

That uncomfortable blend of right wing politics and religion is found in Rome this morning. An essentially left wing man is being buried and his successor elected. Sounds like politics doesn’t it? Actually, it is a religious leader. Pope Francis was a man of the people, of the under dog, of the poor and yet we hear that the Roman Catholic church wants to retrench and become more structurally tradional again. Particularly, we hear that Trump & Vance are lobbying for a pope in their image. Whether they manage that or not will have huge consequences for the dwindling number of Roman Catholics in the world.

For me, all religion will remain a nonsense. I will not look to some imaginary being to raise my spirits. I will wallow in the sadness of self pity what ever it looks like.

Sunday, 13th April, 2025

A very (relatively) warm night. We didn’t fall below 13C/55F. This morning is lovely. Out walking early in the sunshine. I ought to do this more often. Spam burgers out & walking in. Haven’t been down to the beach for a day or two. Yesterday, it looked absolutely idyllic.

Sometimes people ask why I should go abroad … but then, of course, we don’t get the searing heat that I so enjoy. I will get that in Greece in June and August. I will get it in Spain in June. It’s still agreat view on a sunny day, Dear Reader.

Out walking early because I am driving up to Surrey this morning. I’m fitting up a new TV box for an elderly couple. Unfortunately, school holidays in Easter week on a sunny morning will bring out the motorists and we already know that there is a motorway works closure causing trouble en route so it could be frustrating. I won’t even notice. I will be deep into the lates polical podcast from The News Agents.

Meanwhile, people on our Greek island continue to follow the time honoured rituals in preparation for Greek Easter. Each year, the women of Kamares come out to paint the lines between the flags of the pavements giving them their characteristic look. When the crowds disembark in the port in the background, everything will look cared-for and pretty. The men will be slaughtering the lambs and preparing the spit barbecues for the roasting celebrations.

Monday, 14th April, 2025

Another warm night and another gorgeous morning. Please don’t let it end … ever. Got a busy day ahead and I think that is important. Keeping busy, having stuff to do is important in Retirement. Exercise is certainly helping with my health and especially with my Blood Pressure.

At breakfast this morning, my Nurse took my Blood Pressure with this result. The challenge is on. Aged 74, can you beat this? All photos welcome …. The little heart at the top indicates Atrial Fibrillation and that is my weakness.

This morning I’ve got walking, lawn raking and car cleaning. This afternoon I’ve got patio cleaning and Gym work. I know, you’d find all that too exciting, Dear Reader. Well, you lie down and I’ll just get on with it quietly in the background.

Talking about quietly in the background. Have you ever listened to BBC Radio 2? It used to be known as the ‘oldies channel’ and I have never knowingly listened to it. I did today. It is dreadful. I really suffered but I was taking one for the team. Dee next door contacted me to say Michelle across the road was going to be on Radio 2 this morning to celebrate her 50th birthday. Dutifully, I found Radio 2 to hear Michelle talking about her favourite music over her 50 years. I can honestly say I had no idea what she was talking about – poor child. Still she has widened my experience even if it was a stretch too far.

Good to see the House Price movement is positive after a period of retrenchment. It is a sign of an improving economy when house owners feel more confident of their assets and see them as worthwhile investing in. The Labour Government are starting to turn the supertanker round in spite of the Tory Press machine’s head winds. Rising asset prices mean people are more likely to invest to improve which, in turn, fuels the economy. If I wasn’t so happy here, I would consider another new house with all the innovations of the last decade that would be included now. Who knows? Maybe …

Tuesday, 15th April, 2025

It rained over night and that was wonderful, much needed. Grey and warm this morning. Today is National Vent Opening Day – well, I’ve unilaterally declared it. With no prospect of any more cold weather and certainly no frost until November/December and no need for central heating, the trickle vents on all the windows and doors which have been closed since last November can now be opened.

My friend would sleep with the windows open all year round. I’m more fragile and prefer the warmth. Actually, I have found that I feel the cold a lot more since my radiotherapy treatment and I recently read that was a common response.

Life is full of challenges and data records. I am beset by them every day. From the moment I get up I am challenging myself to do better. I constantly feel a failure who has to improve. I could list my failures but it would be too painful. I prefer to focus on successes.

This morning started by being weighed. That’s OK. My shaver reports the quality of my shave. That’s OK. At breakfast, my blood pressure is taken and that’s OK. On Tuesdays, I test my INR (blood coagulation) and that’s OK. During the day, my watch and fitness app on my phone will be monitoring the distance I have walked, calories burned against calories consumed and … that’s OK. And yet, I still feel a failure. OK is not good enough.

Schools used to be damned with the faint praise of Satisfactory by Ofsted. My school was pleased to be so damned. Then, my data challenges were pupil numbers, exam results, attendance rates, etc.. Never felt more than OK. Why can’t I achieve Outstanding?

Do you know what this is? It is data from the last century. They used to call them cheques. I don’t have a cheque book and haven’t had one for years. The other day, our Investment Bank demanded two forms of identity and a cheque in order to open a new ISA account. My Accountant had to rummage through a filing cabinet to find one. Not only have I not used a cheque book in years but I seem physically incapable of signing my own name now. I have digital copies of my signature which I insert into letters these days.

On Sunday, someone gave us a cheque to pay into our account. The last local bank closed down a few months ago so what do you do with a cheque? Well, it is so easy now. I just open my Banking app on my phone. It automatically scans the cheque and credits it to my account. Why hasn’t it always been like this? We even pay our window cleaner digitally. Who needs banks?

Wednesday, 16th April, 2025

Nice morning but a bit breezy. Gardening today. Things are growing so fast including the grass so I have to deal with it while I am here. This year, of course, is a year of travel. I have only been to Spain (proper) once and that was a delightful trip to Valencia. This year, I have rented a property in Torrevieja for July. We are flying there this time but, if we can establish a property we like, next year we could rent it for longer and drive there. That is the aim.

Ironically, there was an earthquake in Spain on Tuesday and it hit … Torrevieja among other towns of Murcia. Actually, it was only 2.8 richter but it shook the residents. Anyway, Spain feels quite a way off at the moment. Before that, I’ve got trips in May including one driving to France. Just been looking at places to re-explore.

Thinking of spending a day in Boulogne mooching about the shops. I like the fish market on the docks and the Philippe Olivier cheese shop but there is a lot to see elsewhere.

I know it seems to include food markets but that is what France is so good for and I am starving! It will be great for walking too as long as the weather is fine.

Fifteen years ago today, I was driving on the Autostrada del Sol from a hotel stop in Modena and setting off for Ancona port, past acres and acres of fruit trees – pear blossom looking and smelling wonderful and on to an Anek Lines ferry to sail down the Adriatic to Patras. Happy times.

Been a gorgeously, warm and sunny day. Met my lovely neighbour out on my walk. We talked about her deciding to finish teaching now in her early 50s and how they looked forward to paying off their mortgage and spending more time in Europe travelling in non-holiday periods. I’ve just been telling her how to access the Teachers’ Pension site to get an estimate of her pension and Lump Sum. I had forgotten how little I knew about my pension until a few months before I left the job at the age of 57.

Thursday, 17th April, 2025

Glorious start to what is going to be a wonderfully warm and sunny day. The blue of the sky is delicicious. The green of the new leaves on the trees is luminous. The sunshine is to be drunk in by the eyes. I might be 74 but I am free to do what I want, when I want and I will.

Rather buoyed up by the data from the IMF reported in The Telegraph this morning although I realise it has a political slant:

Of, course, the slant is to encourage people to continue contributing to the economy after the traditional retirement age of 60-65 but, for a man who retired at the age of 57 and has been playing out for over 16 years now, it gives one pause for thought. Of course, it is not life span that is important but healthy life that counts. Yesterday, a report released said the data suggested people in the more prosperous parts of the country lived 19 more healthy years than those in the poorer parts of the country. That’s a huge disparity but is dictated by poor housing, poor diet, more stressful financial security and employment, less easy access to the Health Service.

Intellectual strength is important and it is amazing to see the finding that cognitive function of 70 year olds today is equivalent to cognitive function of a 53 year old just over 20 years ago. That is is incredibly fast development. I really try hard to keep working on, thinking & reading about, learning new ideas; keeping my mind open to change.

I do worry about the old people I see shuffling out of the newsagents (who buys print newspapers these days?) with a rolled up copy of The Daily Fail or the Daily Regress under their arms so they can browse the pictures and the huge, simplistic headlines which challenge no one intellectually at all. That is their attraction – ‘readers’ don’t need to think for themselves. They are told what to think.

Are you shocked when you look back how far you have come, Dear Reader? My wife was a keen ice dancing fan for years and particularly got hooked in the era of Torville & Dean winning the Olympic gold medal with a dance to the music of Ravel’s Bolero. This morning it was announced that they were making their retirement tour. I’m surprised they can still do it. They are aged 67 but 70 is the new 50. It was February 1984 – 41 years ago. We were still just 31, Dear Reader. How time has flown along. Time to reclaim it!

Been down to the beach to buy fish. You need a mortgage now to do that. We had 2 kilos of Swordfish, 2 kilos of Tuna, Cod Fillets, Wild Sea Bass Fillets and a Kilos of Prawns. Nearly fell off my feet when it came to £250.00. Still, good, healthy food contributes to a long life … with luck.

Friday, 18th April, 2025

A bright, sunny but quite chilly morning of remembrance. Memory is always a mixture of happiness and sadness. I noted that 16 years ago today, we were flying back from Athens after an Easter holiday on the island. They were times of optimism and happiness. They are gone.

Memories are sad, aren’t they Dear Reader. The joy of the past is sharpened in its loss as life continues without it. Everywhere was a different place 16 years ago and everyone was a different person. Things have happened since then that cannot be unhappened, said that cannot be unsaid and done that cannot be undone.

In my beginning is my end. Now the light falls
Across the open field, leaving the deep lane
Shuttered with branches, dark in the afternoon …

T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets Part II: East Coker

Where will we be in another 16 years, Dear Reader, I at the age of 90 and you? It is almost unimaginable. And yet, I want to know. Only 16 years to 90.

Just been out to sell a £1000.00 of US Dollars which we’ve been holding in our Travel Bag for about 3 years. We’ve finally decided, like so many other Europeans, that we can’t face Trump’s America. The number of European travellers visiting the US has fallen sharply as political and economic tension and fears of a hostile border under Trump threaten the world’s most lucrative air routes. In spite of the imperative of Realpolitik, we are increasingly expecting our Governments to be more muscular in their dealings with the U.S..

We have reports of people’s Social Media accounts being checked and them being excluded because of adverse comments about Trump. Certainly, two reported Journalists have had that experience. We know that Canadians are savagely retrenching with some selling second homes in the US and repatriating their cash.

In the meantime, we have the awkward problem of how to get a wad of Bank Notes into our account. We have so few Bank Branches available now it is a problem. Checking, I find that we have one branch in town still or I can pay it in via the local Post Office.

Saturday, 19th April, 2025

Quite a grey start to the day which is disappointing. I woke up at 5.30 am and felt disatissfied, at a loss, without purpose. I hate it. For the first time for quite a while, I don’t have a list of tasks to pursue and get done. It is an uncomfortable feeling. I find myself inventing things to do. I am going to clean and tidy the Gym. I use it every day and, because of that, familiarity masks the grubbiness and untidyness.

I’ve had a hankering for a new coffee maker for quite a while. I have been able to keep it at that until now because there’s nothing wrong with my curent one and its replacement will cost me about £750.00 which I begrudge. I like bean-to-cup machines and have been using them for the last decade.

Currently, I have this silver De’Longhi Magnifica which I’ve been using for the past 5 years. It has a milk frothing wand. I want this black De’Longhi Rivelia which automatically integrates milk frothing according to the selection of coffee that you chose from the menu – Espresso, Cappuccino, Lattemacchiato, etc.. In fact, there are 16 different hot and cold coffees it will make automatically.

In that time, I’ve owned so many coffee makers as technology has improved, moving from early filters to Bean-to-Cup machines with separate milk frothers, wand milk frothers so integrated milk frothing and dispensing will be an advance. You can still manually adjust the coarseness of the bean grind and the strength of coffee delivery to taste. I buy a an Italian roast, strength 4 bean. Particularly at the moment when I am restricting calories, drinks are very important. I only ever use fully skimmed milk and have done for 40 years. I also drink instant coffee but I’ve decided to phase that out and drink less but better quality.

We all spend our money on different things. My lovely next door neighbour sent me this photo of her birthday present. She had a facial which had, as she said, some gold in it. I checked and the claim is that gold has various benefits for the skin, including slowing down collagen depletion and preventing sagging. You know you need it, Dear Reader. I think I’ll order that coffee maker!

The sun has come out so time for a walk. The exercise routine goes on in the background whatever I’m feeling. There is always pain, Dear Reader. There is always pain. …. I can tell you my Gym work hurt and was real mind over matter today after a lovely, warm walk around the parks. We reached a comfortable 22C/70F this afternoon which softened the pain. This type of weather really does encourage sharing and indulging.

Sunday, 6th April, 2025

We are 74 this morning. It is not a good situation. 74 is a distinctly scary number. I woke at 4.30 am to find Birthday greetings on my phone from two, lunatics in America. At Breakfast, I was given a card by my Carer. She thought I wouldn’t realise it was the same one I gave her last October being recycled. Effectively, I bought my own birthday card. That is the watchword of my Carer – Thrift in Everything …. unless she is looking at Clothes Brochures.

Talking about thrift. I moved a significant amount of money – £40,000.00 yesterday from one financial institution to another. As a sign of the times, I did it at the click of a finger print from my phone. It still feels a significant and edgy thing to do. I needed it to repatriate funds for new ISAs in a couple of days time. It didn’t arrive immediately as one would like for easy assurance. The original account said it could take up to 24 hrs. Then, I did do it on a Saturday. Would it show on a Sunday? At 4.30 am, I woke up and checked my phone. It hadn’t arrived. In fact I was told my account was being upgraded. Wonderful.

Gorgeous day outside. Going out for a walk to start the day. Before that, I received lovely Birthday wishes from lots of my old College friends around the country. It included people I don’t talk to very often. Kevin Sellers in North Scotland. Derek France in Skelmanthorpe, Heather Mellows in Cambridge. At times like this, you realise who your friends are. Nice messages from my Brothers and Sisters in Yorkshire, Ireland and Berkshire. Lovely wishes from my neighbours here. How lucky am I to live in such a wonderful place?

Just as I am about to start on my walk, a ping informs me that £40,000.00 has arrived in my account. Phew …. the day can develop happily. As we walk, we see many regulars out doing the same or working in their gardens. It always surprises me how certain plants / shrubs are particularly popular or do especially well in certain areas. Here Photinias (a Laurel derivative) are very popular and successful. Photinia Red Robin Hedge is everywhere and beautiful at this time of year.

Wisteria is popular and very successful in our warmer climate. Usually, it is the traditional, blue, mauve coloured flowered one. On our walk, one man has a wonderful display of this white Wisteria climbing his walls. I asked for a seed pod to try and grow my own. I wasn’t successful but today he has offered to root a cutting for me. I haven’t told him but I will give it to my next door neighbour who loves her Wisteria.

One couple who we see regularly stopped to talk today. He had recovered from cancer just like me. Today they were coming back from Covid-19 Spring Boosters which are available at Angmering Medical Centre for over 75s.

We had told them that we retired 16 years ago and today I said I was 74 so couldn’t have the jab. They genuinely said they thought we must be in our early 60s which was nice. Certainly Pauline could pass for that if not me.

Warm sunshine makes all the difference to walking. This morning, we are 22C/70F which is warmer than Athens. I love it. Come and share it, Dear Reader. Sun is good for the skin and the soul …. if you’ve got one.

Monday, 7th April, 2025

Already 74 years are bedded in and advanced by a day. Nightmare! This once young man is no more. Too dramatic, Dear Reader? Maybe but probably only because you have got there before me.

I grow old ... I grow old ...
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

Shall I part my hair behind?   Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.

I do not think that they will sing to me.

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

By T. S. Eliot

I woke up thinking about it this morning. The house and the bed were too hot. Cremation was all around … and yet, even at 5.45 am, sunshine was striking through the blinds. We are going to be a support unit for even older people than us. This morning, early, we drive up to Surrey. It is the most glorious journey through newly minted hedgerows along freshly carpeted roadsides under deliciously, clear blue skies warmly lit by a rising sun.

An hour or so of enjoyable driving up to Byfleet in Surrey. Collect P&C and off for another 30 mins drive to Ashford Hospital effectively in Staines on Thames near Heathrow Airport. Planes were taking off and landing all around us. Fortunately, P has a Blue Parking Badge so leaving the car was quick and easy. They disappeared into the bowels of the hospital and I had about 90 mins to walk in the sun. I did exactly that around the huge hospital carparks and those of the mega-Tesco store next door. I covered 6 miles in that time.

The wounded soldiers returned from the hospital to be driven home. There was a problem with their TV which I attempted to sort out. It looks as if their Freeview box is failing and I’ve identified a new one to replace it. I will have to drive up next week to fit and configure it for them. They are probably the last generation to be rather uncomfortable with digital technology although I know some stragglers from mine.

The drive home was equally enjoyable and remarkably quiet … probably because it’s school holidays. Back home, my first thought was for my seedlings out in the coldframes being attacked by the savage sun. I opened them up to breath the air and my under gardener watered them. Then out for an hour’s walk before Supper – fresh Tuna Steaks griddled outside and eaten with a fresh, green salad. Delicious meal. Delicious day, Dear Reader.

Tuesday, 8th April, 2025

What a lovely morning. Hope it is with you, Dear Reader. Blue sky and strong sunshine really makes me want to be up and out and exercising. You? Actually, we have appointments at a Health Clinic – Our Future Health.

It is our contribution to the future health of our fellow citizens. We have to give a blood sample, be weighed and have our body dimensions measured and recorded. There will be a follow up and a scan and we will get DNA information and ongoing monitoring.

Fifteen years ago, we had been retired for a year and were still feeling strange about getting up, opening the blinds and thinking, I am free to do what ever I want today. Actually, it was Easter Holidays for those going back to work. We were in the final days before driving to Greece. We had a new car – the latest iteration of the Honda CRV. In the last few days before driving off to Hull Docks for the trip to Zeebrugge, the boot looked like this:

All the essentials for 6 months in Greece which we couldn’t fit in to the car for driving over was packed up in boxes and sent by Post Office parcel rate. It was actually very cost effective. I noted 50 kg cost £120.00 to get there and these parcels would arrive on the island about the same day as we did.

This year we are not driving but flying to Greece twice. In June, we will be in Thessaloniki and, in August, we will be in Athens. Actually, yesterday a friend from Saloniki posted this interesting weather which contrasted sharply with our blue skies and sunshine. By the time we get there, it will be roaring hot!

Wednesday, 9th April, 2025

Bad night. Couldn’t sleep. Up at 4.00 am and watching Arsenal beat Real Madrid by 3 fantastic goals on replay. Back to bed for an hour and listening to The Rest is Politics Blog. Fell asleep and didn’t get up until 7.30 am. Late. Got to be at the Bank by 9.00 am to open a new ISA. Nice morning and warm and sunny. Later I will go down to the beach to look for a false leg that someone posted they had lost there. Usually, there is plenty washed up over night although I haven’t seen legs recently.

Going out to fix new ISAs as quickly as possible. I’ve been researching them on and off for days. Thought I knew exactly what to do and then … Trump happened. The whole market was destabilised and all the deals I was seeing were pulled over night. Yesterday, I spoke to an investment bank customer manager who told me they had no offers left at all. They had all been pulled off the market.

I decided that I would just have to cut my losses and take a High Street offer at Nationwide B.S. Strangest thing happened. Just as we were going out of the door, the investment bank phoned and said they were prepared to make us an offer because we were existing investors. I have a number of ISAs with them at 6.05%. They offered me a new one at 4.37% which is good for the existing market.

So we went out to see them in Littlehampton. At this rate, £40,000.00 over 2 years will make £3,572.00 but, because it is tax-free, that is the equivalent of £4,287.00. So, just over 5% in actuality. It’s not brilliant but better than a poke in the eye.

Walking back to the car in beautiful sunshine through this quaint, little seaside town, I realised how pretty it is. It took us past a Lidl supermarket where they were advertising Greek olive oil. Just tasted it. From Chania, Kriti, it really is good first press, extra-virgin and costs just £13.00 per litre. I could be spending my investment income on it.

When I retired 16 years ago, I told my Carer that we weren’t going to fall into the Old Person Sydrome which includes the tenets of:

It’s not like the old days.
I don’t do on-line / technology.
I’m too old for that, too old to learn new things.
I’ll be dead by the time that happens, thank goodness …
I don’t know how I found time to work.

Well, I heard myself say this last one today and berated myself for saying it. Life is very busy at the moment and I should be grateful for it. Busy is good. New things are good. Being tested is good.

Thursday, 10th April, 2025

A cooler more over clouded morning start. Lawn mowing day. Seedling repotting day. Walking day. It’s hard to cope with the excitement. Now the Finances are sorted out for a few months, that can all be put to the back of my mind although the next period of frenzy will be in July when another large tranche matures and needs reinvesting. Unfortunately, the likelihood is that interest rates will have fallen by then and returns will be much reduced.

I’m champing at the bit for travel but I’ve got to wait until next month. This day fifteen years ago, we had just arrived at our Greek house. My chef had made a batch of bread. I had got the essential services – satellite TV and internet reinstalled, the over-winter bills were paid and things for the core of life were in place. We drove out to the pretty, fishing village of Vathy (Greek for Deep which it is.) Lovely Taverna there for Lunch. Lunch? What is that? Nowadays, Lunch is for wimps!

I miss the long drive as much as anything. This time in 2011, I was driving around Lake Como and on to the Milan Ring Road. Everyone said what a nightmare it would be to drive in Italy. I loved it. Usually, we would set off to get to the island before Greek Easter which is often on a later date than UK Easter. This year, they both arrive on the same day – April 20th – so we would be leaving this weekend.

The place to be today is Greater Manchester – 3C warmer than us. I’m hoping the Labour Government will quickly reverse that outrage. The sun is out here and we have set up our new, cantilever parasol. We constructed it from the Chinese-manufactured box and ignoring the lunatic instructions in under 20 mins and without threat of divorce which augers well that we will get through to Supper …. out in the garden under our new parasol.

Friday, 11th April, 2025

Gorgeous start to the day and a lovely, warm and sunny day in prospect – in fact, the next two or three days. We actually need some rain and there is none in prospect until Tuesday.

Out early for Part 1 of my annual, medical review. Lots of samples of data this morning. Blood, urine (proud of my specimen), weight, height, blood pressure, heart rate, etc. The resuts will appear on my NHS app within two days and then I will be invited in for Part 2 to review them with my doctor. Great service.

I have been medicated for Atrial Fibrillation since 2009. I take warfarin blood thinner daily and test myself weekly. I also have a statin and a blood pressure tablet. When I was travelling to Greece for 6 months, my doctors (Yorkshire & Surrey) broke all the rules and prescribed 6 months of medication a prescription so I manged the time. Actually, at that time, 2 months was the maximum prescription one could ask for.

Now, National Guidelines have halved that period. We are no longer considered responsible adults. Apprently, there have been incidents of people over medicating so all people have to be restricted. It’s a nonsense. I am going to be travelling a lot this year and need have a store of medication to take with me. I will have to argue that case this morning. I have been on this diet, exercise and and no alcohol regime for almost 8 full months now. My data will be excellent and I will receive plaudits for once. Nice to look forward to a Medical.

Lovely lady saw me and we chatted for about 20 mins. She talked more about her diet, her attempts to cut out alcohol and to reduce her cholesterol than mine but I didn’t mind. She was extremely flattering about my weight and fitness improvements and said she would send off urine & blood samples to the Lab and I would be contacted in a few days. I left and drove out of the car park thinking about the blood and urine samples being tested. Suddenly, it hit me. She took my urine sample and we joked about its purity. I suddenly realised, she hadn’t taken any blood.

I was about to turn round when the car phone rang and it was her feeling rather sheepish. I drove back. She took two phials of blood – so I’ve donated 4 this week already, almost an armful – and I went on my way happily out into the glorious sunshine.

More grass cutting today. A bit of overseeding to do where bare patches show. The cold frames are bulging so I will soon have to move things out. It’s looking as if I will be able to safely now. Not much chance of a frost on the west Sussex coast in mid-April. Two dozen Green Bean plants will go out today. I’ll be eating them by late June and successive sowing will take them through the whole Summer. I eat them three times a week at least along with Asparagus but that is more challenging to grow in a small space.

The Green Beans are planted out. Lettuce is sown – 4 types which will mature at different times over the Summer. I cut the neighbour’s lawns this afternoon in scorching sunshine. The grass hasn’t done very well over this dry Winter and I am struggling to make it look good for them at the moment. I really don’t want to let them down. Looks like I’ll have to make more effort.

Saturday, 12th April, 2025

Another gorgeous morning after a warm, moonlit night. Actually, it will be full (pink) moon tonight. Last night, we didn’t fall below 12C and it is already very warm at 10.00 am today. Not a day to go down to the beach with school holidays and beach weather combining on a Saturday.

Blood Test at 9.30 yesterday morning. Results were sent to me through my Patients Know Best app just 5 hours later. What a fantastic service from the NHS. It is exactly the way forward. Digital reports from a very human service and all ‘free at the point of delivery’. It is interesting that I will be reading and interpreting them days before my clinician.

In general most of the 15 separate tests are very pleasing and positive. Particularly, my Cholesterol levels are excellent. There are just three readings which are out of range:

• Neutrophils count
• Lymphocyte count
• Tryglyceride count

Like most of the others, I had no idea of their significance and had to look them up. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that play a crucial role in the immune system and low Lymphocyte count, also known as lymphocytopenia, in a blood test can indicate a weakened immune system. Both of these readings are intimately connected to the effects of cancer treatment. It is now just over a year since my treatment ended and I had hoped that my immune system would have recovered by now.

The third out of range reading is low Tryglyceride count which I am told are not usually a cause for concern but can be as a result of a low fat diet, nutritious eating or even fasting – so I plead guilty on each of those points. Over all, my results are not too bad for a 74 year old although I must seek advice on how to boost my immune system.

Our lovely neighbour across the road, Michelle, is going to be just 50 next week and is partying tonight. I expressed my surprise that she was still only 49 but she seemed to cope with it. She does occasionally check that we (the old people) are alright which is nice of her. One day we might need it.

Sunday, 30th March, 2025

You can’t stop time, can you, Dear Reader? The warp and weft of time gets faster with age as we hurtle down the escalator of Life. The seasons arrive unexpectedly quickly. Clocks have gone forward this morning. Bedrooms light up more quickly as sun floods through the blinds. Daylight times are gradually lengthening and plants drink increasing sunshine and push towards the sky. Thoughts turn to shorts, living outdoors and travelling.

Out of all the time displays in the house and I’ve just quickly counted 21 different screens, only two now need manual adjustment – the oven and the coffee machine. Everything else is internet connected or radio controlled and updates over night automatically. Happy British Summer Time (BST), Dear Reader.

It is the most beautiful day – which eventually reached 19C/66F down here. Today is a day of worship. Some people go to church. I worship the sun. Out for an early work and then gardening. Actually, I’m feeling weak and lacking in energy so the whole process will be a real effort – a case of mind over matter – but it has to be done.

It is Mothers’ Day or Mothering Sunday as it used to be known when I had a mother. It shocked me to realise that I haven’t seen my Mother for just about 17 years. She died on the 27th of April, 20o8. I wouldn’t pretend that much was made of the day when she was alive but it does provide a focus in retrospect. I don’t think about her so much now. She had been a constantly reproving influence in the background. I would phone her at least once a week thoughout my life away to ensure she was alright but usually left with a feeling of her disappointment in me. It was never more than my feeling of disappointment in myself.

My Mother bequeathed a life-long burden of the sense of Original Sin which has haunted me throughout my life. Even though I rejected Christianity generally and Roman Catholicism specifically long ago, the Jesuit burden remains. I resent it and have resented it throughout. It has made me atheist. Of course, she also bequeathed me a love of words, of language which has stood me in good stead throughout my life. I love the sounds, the feel of words in my mouth. I love the power of words to define and describe ideas. Words and Ideas are life itself.

Out walking in hot sunshine with bulbs, shrubs, trees bursting with new life everywhere. It is an exciting time for the living. This makes it even harder to reflect upon the dead. And then I walked past this magnolia – almost going over now but beautiful still – and remembered that it was Mum’s favourite shrub. She had a huge, white flowered one in her final garden and was always talking about it at this time. I suspect it was an echo of her childhood in London where they are ubiquitous.

Monday, 31st March, 2025

Gloriously clear and starry sky last night which has given way to a morning of clear, blue skies and sunshine and will for the week ahead which will also see a new month arriving. Everything is bursting, growing celebrating the light and increasing warmth. Today is definitely gardening day.

I am planting herbs this morning – French Tarragon, Ligurian Sage, Tuscan Rosemary – and sowing Parsley seeds – both English Curled and French Flat Leafed and some Red Leafed Lettuce. I’m also going to try some propogation of favourite shrubs. For example, a shrub which shines all Winter and Summer is Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’. It grows very well along my Drive. I’m going to propagate some soft stem cuttings over the next few weeks.

Always an optimistic time for gardeners. I’ll soon have to get my Hedge Trimmer woman back to work, when she’s finished all the weeding. Wickes are delivering a load of Topsoil/Compost this afternoon so my walk and Gym work has to be done early.

The one downside of lovely, warm weather is that I associate it with the Dancin’ in the Street syndrome – warmth, food, wine and relaxation – not with discipline, denial, exercise and pain. My head has to fight it all even harder than usual. As the Summer arrives in the garden, my fight will be so much more demanding. Still, Non Desistas Non Exieris – Never Give Up Never Surrender.

Tuesday, 1st April, 2025

Happy April, Dear Reader. Embrace the Summer. Enjoy the new month. March 2025 has gone for ever other than on the Blog record.

And what a day it is. Had to take my Housekeeper down to the surgery for a blood test. They established she still has some. Continued on to a hot and sunny seaside.

Down at the beach this morning we saw less people than we could count on our hands. The tide was out and so were the holiday crowds. What a beautifully peaceful place it is on a Monday morning when everyone else is at school and work. Work? Do you remember that, Dear Reader? It is becoming an increasingly faded memory for me. I was actually Headhunted on Linkedin yesterday but I didn’t give it much consideration.

We say it so often but it is like being on holiday when we walk in the sunshine down here but just a few minutes from our house. It’s a lovely feeling. You should come on down, Dear Reader, and experience it.

Talking about holidays, we have four flights booked this Summer out of Gatwick Aiport where one of the bugbears is and has been for some time Airport Security procedures. Really annoying having to restrict liquids in our bags and electrical items in carry-on bags. Really annoying and slow having to take out laptops, iPads, smartphones and send them all through the scanners separately.

Well not anymore. Gatwick has installed the newest generation scanners which mean none of that nonsense is required. London Gatwick Airport’s new CT scanners allow passengers to keep liquids and electronics in bags, improving security and passenger flow and letting us get into the Executive Lounge quicker and less stressed. I must admit I am looking to flying again. Thessaloniki in June is the first flight so lots of hard work to do before then.

Going out for a second walk in the countryside now because the weather is so wonderful. I’m also moving French Bean plants, which have grown 6″ in a week, into the cold frames. Not growing taller but older is old friend, Christine Dagg is 74 today. We wish her Happy Birthday and rejoice in the fact that she’s looking even more erotic than we remember her in the late 1960s. Kevin’s finally replaced his stolen car after three months so he will be able to take her out to celebrate.

A footnote: March 2025 was the driest March since 1961 when I was just 10 years old. This afternoon, we have hit 20C/68F on the South Coast and it feels glorious. You really should be here, Dear Reader!

Wednesday, 2nd April, 2025

The gorgeous days just go on. Today is a very busy one. In the garden, I’m planting potatoes. Don’t know why because I don’t eat them but my Carer does so there’s a cue. I’m sowing lettuces for me. The Green Bean plants have gone out into the cold frames to enjoy the sunlight.

The car needs a full valet so that will take a couple of hours and I’m going to finish it off with a long-term, silicon spray coating for a showroom shine. I’m fitting a corner shower caddy in a shower which has hardly been used since we moved here but, apparently, needs it. I’ve got another big day of exercise to fit in. And so the days go. Everything changes. Everything remains the same.

After a plateau period, my weight is suddenly dropping fast again. I have been on this current course for 198 days or just over 7 months now – without alcohol, on 1500 calories a day and walking 60 miles a week. It is working but it is beginning to feel like a long time. Just trying to keep my head down, keep going, keep measuring my stats.. I’ve got an Annual Health Review coming up soon so I’m looking forward to that report.

Our house is Band F for Council Tax. I looked up what Band F house price applies to and it was/is properties valued between £120,000 – £160,000. As our house would sell at 5 x that price, you can see how outdated this system is. The problem with changing it is illustrated by the fact tht it was rushed in by Thatcher who feared being deposed by the Poll Tax riots and it has never been readdressed. Even now, voices of dissent are feint because of the political dangers.

What is possible is taxing the ‘nominally’ rich second home owners. After all, no one needs a second home even if they aspire to it. They are doing it in Wales with large, new second home taxes which seems to be answering the problem. The local complaint has been that outsiders buy up properties thus inflating prices so locals cannot afford to live in their own area. Large, new council tax premiums are encouraging/forcing second home owners to put properties on the market in large numbers. Lots of properties for sale has reduced prices and locals can suddenly afford to buy them. That’s the way to go.

If my friend, Julie, who has just gone through her third bout of breast cancer can remain optimistic, anybody can. I am definitely looking forward to happy times – travelling, meeting up with old friends, enjoying the sunshine and the growing crops, eating and drinking for a while and staying fit and healthy for a long time. We’ve got to do it, Dear Reader. The temperature is 21C/70F in our back garden this afternoon. Come on down!

Thursday, 3rd April, 2025

Had a bad night. Woke up fed up. Don’t know why but I was tired and grumpy. I am in a fractious, fighting mood. I am just as fractious and critical of myself as anyone else. It is a beautiful day outside and my mood is in direct contrast to that so it doesn’t always work, obviously. Even so, my advice is: Don’t cross me today, Dear Reader.

I think one of the reasons for my bad mood is the day. It reminds me how old I am. Today marks the 16 year anniversary of my Retirement. I walked out of my school for the last time on April 3rd, 2009 and I haven’t been in a school since. I have no intentions of it either.

There are some things and people that I have to see again but schools aren’t on that list. Hard to believe, though, that I haven’t worked for 16 years.

A gardening day although I’m going to the beach for a walk first. Today I will be planting out some potatoes for my Housekeeper who loves new potatoes smothered in butter.

Potatoes are so easy to grow. I bought a new (to me) seed potato called Cassablanca. They have been chitting or developing break-out shoots in the light of the cold frame for a week. Dig a trench, space the seed potatoes carefully, cover over with soil and sit back. When shoots break through the ground, heap soil over the top to keep them warm and exclude the light. After just 10 weeks, dig up with a fork and out will come nests of the most delightful snow, white new potatoes.

I’m also going to start planting up the pots. Currently I am in love with this plant – Houttuynia Cordata (pronounced Who-tun-yer) which is amazingly bright and dominates the area.

It splits and is easy to grow. I have been nurturing small cuttings over the Winter and they are ready to be planted out. That will be one of the jobs. I love red Geraniums but will wait a couple of weeks to plant them out. Seeds I sowed just over a week ago are now romping away and will need pricking out into pots. I use my Under-Gardener’s more delicate skills for that job. I just direct the operation.

Friday, 4th April, 2025

L’été est vraiment arrivé… Summer is really here. Love it! We are forecast for 22C/70F today and warm and dry weather for the week ahead. It’s so warm, I’ve opened up all the cold frames to the skies. Green Beans are looking great and will be ready to plant out in a week.

For years, I would stride around the Greek Islands, stripped to the waist, in 90F of burning sunshine. I love sunshine. I love heat. But I am finding that my tolerance is less enduring than it once was. Older skin tans less and tolerates less. We already have two, huge parasols in the garden. I’ve just had to order a third. We eat outside a lot. I can no longer sit in full sun at a Dining Table. I have ordered a huge, cantilever parasol which will completely shade our table.

Sign of the times. Admission of aging. Good price though, Dear Reader. We’ll see how good it is in reality. Let’s hope it gets plenty of use in the next few months when we are at home.

Apart from exercise, I’ve got all sorts of outdoor jobs to get through today. Potting up newly sown plants. Taking cuttings for the cold frames. Mowing the public lawns. Cleaning the patio flags. In down times, I am finalising where I will place the ISA investments for 2025-26. They sound like they may be the last, large amounts I can shelter from taxation. The Investment Bank I propose using has just announced that it will close all High Street branches from July so I’m busily installing apps to do the day to day transactions.

We are driving to France in a few weeks so I am researching some activities of interest while we are there. I am going to go back to St Omer which I have driven through a number of times without really exploring. Hopefully, we will have some dry, warm weather to walk and see the sights. St Omer is notable as a Brewing town like Burton on Trent where I’m from.

I’ve just been watching the most moving trial summary by the judge in the conviction of a woman who killed her new born child while under post natal depression 25 years ago. She was sentenced to 2 year’s imprisonment suspended. My Grandmother, my Dad’s Mum, was sentenced to life long mental hospital incarceration as a result of her reaction to post natal depression. How times have changed.

An old friend sent me a lovely memory to lift the spirits after visiting yesterday in wonderful sunshine. Great times. There are times when you just need a bit of a lift. Out walking this morning, the temperature reached an astonishing 27C/81F and my spirits were rising with the heat when a lovely young lady came over the grass in the park and said,

I hope you don’t mind me saying but I’ve been watching you for a few months and you’re looking great. You’ve really lost a lot of weight. How have you done it? Just through walking?

Of course, she began to wish she hadn’t asked the resident weight-loss bore because she got chapter and verse about how I’d done it but it cheered me up.

Saturday, 5th April, 2025

Goes without saying that it is another glorious day. Down at the beach, the sea is calm and flat and glistening in the sunshine. The warmth yesterday reminded me of an early Greek morning and it is about this time we would be setting off on our drive – Hull / Zeebrugge / Luxembourg / Metz / Strasbourg / Colmar / Mulhouse / Lucerne / Altdorf / Como / Milan / Piacenza / Modena / Pisaro / Ancona / Ferry down the Adriatic to Patras / Drive to Piraeus / Ferry to Sifnos … and rest. The journey was wonderful fun.

When we first travelled to the island in 1984, the ferries – the Ionian Express and the Kimolos Express took a sapping 5.5 hrs to get there. Although the Adriatic ferry took 24 hours, we had a Luxury cabin and high class restaurants. The Greek island ferries had aeroplane seats and souvlaki bars to buy cheap snacks like ham & cheese toasties and cans of Sprite. It was hard work although we were young and up for the struggle.

Nowadays, some of these chugging, old boats still ply their trade but they are rapidly being outclassed by the newer catamaran-style boats which do the trip in less than half the time – 2.5 hours Piraeus – Sifnos. We could only dream of that at the beginning but time brings innovation and improvement.

When you’re 74, – and I will be tomorrow – you can do anything that you want without concern for the fall out. I intend to do exactly that. This is the year to break all conventions, breach all boundaries and just go for it. Don’t regret it on your death bed will be my motto.

Traditionally, Chef asks what I want for my Birthday meal. This year it is simple and restrained. I want Kolokithokeftedes (κολοκυθοκεφτέδες) (Fried Courgette Balls). An so it will be, Dear Reader. You’re welcome.