Ships That Pass!


This photo is a kind of metaphor for our lives at the moment.
Winnie at one level and Mary at another.
The Prof came home last night exhausted. I am up at 6 am this morning and wont get back from work until 8 pm. By then the Prof will be journeying to work elsewhere.
Ships that cross in the night is an apt phrase.
We grunted at each other this morning as William opened his bowels on the landing wall ( he's old and he likes backing into things remember?)
Only eleven months before I retire!
Then I can get a proper job
One with no unsocial hours

57 comments:

  1. I didn't realize you were so close to retirement! Woo hoo!

    Poor William. I wonder why backing into something is comforting for him? Maybe so no one comes at him from behind while he's "vulnerable."

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  2. I had a similar situation in my first marriage - we were often ships that pass in the night John. It does make keeping a relationship fresh
    and meaningful much harder. But 'knowing' you and the Prof then I am sure you work it out one way or another.

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  3. I'm afraid I descended this morning to a wet pile; unusual for Bok. We gave him a big bone yesterday. it must have been a shock to his system.

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  4. The "girls" have the right idea. Bless Winnie, always the underdog.
    I didn't realise you were nudging retirement either. What will you do - open a Scotch Egg factory?

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  5. We keep such different hours we too are ships which pass. Which has some pluses, as well as the minuses.
    What do you want to do when you retire?

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  6. Mary looks very smart with her new haircut. Mine were done last week…..I like them curly and long haired, but then always love it when they are cut too. X

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  7. Sounds like you and The Prof have found the recipe for a perfect marriage. There can be no arguments when he's away so much.

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    1. I couldn't agree more, we both worked shifts, and opposite weekends, so there was no time to get on each other's nerves!
      It made our time together all the better!
      We both took early retirement and are now doing all the 'together' things we didn't have time for when we were working! X

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  8. And amongst all that and caring for the animals and the garden and the house - you still have fresh flowers on your windowsill. I think, when you retire, you deserve to sit in your garden and paint lovely pictures.

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  9. your backyard looks serene; retire there.

    PS - the word "retirement" does not appear in my vocabulary; I'm 62 and work 9-5 five days a week. without a job I would go bonkers!

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  10. I have an identical garden table but yours looks better with the dog arrangement on the top.

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    1. Yours doesnt have dog poo on its feet

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  11. Your photo reminds me of the breeder of Bedlington Terriers in Sheffield that I knew. She put her dogs on tables for grooming for Crufts, and they stood stock still in whatever position she tweaked them into.

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    Replies
    1. Mary stood on the kitchen table once for nearly two hours

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  12. Did not know you were going to retire. Yay for you! I've ached for your odd and debilitating hours reading over the years. Hope you will take time to 'veg out' before jumping back into the rat race, albeit a more ordered and less stressful race.

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    Replies
    1. To be honest kris, i have semi retured for years

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  13. Too many people look at "retirement" as the end of something .. what will they do. My husband retired a bit earlier than some and we took off .. having fun .. seeing things and places that we had always wanted to see but waited for a long enough vacation .. moving if we wanted to .. not having to think of drive time to work, holidays ... every day was a holiday if we wanted it to be.
    Not having someone else tell us what to do, when to do it or complain to us about anything. And he owned his own business ! It was the beginning of one of the, if not The Most Fun Times in our Life together .. he was so happy not having to go to work or think about Work !
    All those things you thought you would like to do if you had more time, you will have it ...All the places you thought you would like to visit, now you will have the time .. What fun you will have !

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    1. Prof's dont retire my friend, they only fade away x

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  14. i didn't know you were retiring either. it's the best! poor william, i hope that never happens to me.

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  15. Eleven months! Wonderful. We'll help you keep the countdown.

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  16. Good for you. You will love retirement and deservedly so. I don't know how you do all you do while working.

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  17. I miss my Prof when he is away teaching, when he is not teaching he is around the house, 24 / 7, nothing I wanted more than a day alone yesterday. I look forward to being "retirement age" so I can draw on the accounts and shift to a job with fewer hours.

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  18. I didn't know you were so near retirement, John. Your courtyard looks so inviting especially with dogs displayed.

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  19. I could retire at any time, but won't be able to afford it. I will likely drop in the traces. It's only 11 more months. You can do it!

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    Replies
    1. Fjono....its my hope, im waiting for my pension figures!

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  20. How nice that you will retire in time to actually enjoy it.
    Love the view from your back door!

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  21. Look at it as 44 months and they will tick off faster. Once you retire, you will wonder how you did it all, and still worked full time. I'm sure you will keep busy enough.

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  22. I meant 44 weeks. Weeks pass much faster than Months.

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  23. My husband and I are retired and I highly recommend it. More time for the fun things, trying new things, it is ALL good. Just don't get another job, ha ha.

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  24. There are **some** who would say this is the perfect marriage.

    I didn't know you were so close to retirement, how wonderful for you!!!

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    Replies
    1. I look younger than i am........im 54

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  25. I don't fancy "retirement" at all, but then I haven't had a 9-5 job for many years. At 69, I'm still working 2½ days a work and thoroughly enjoying it.

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    Replies
    1. When i was a charge burse i worked mostly 9-5 monday to friday...i miss that

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  26. Love the gardens beyond Winnie and Mary . . .
    Eleven months sounds much shorter than "a year or so!"

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  27. You're lucky to be able to retire so young, John. I think you should be a house husband afterwards. ..with so many animals and responsibilities in the village (like the flower show) and the Prof's hectic schedule, I don't know how you have time to hold down a job as it is!

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    1. And im doing extra shifts soon.....we have new windows to pay for

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  28. What a beautiful view into your back patio and yard. So very different from mine. How can you do any work with that view ! Love Mary posing on the table. She must be a handful.
    This is what I love about the UK, what I think is an "Miss Marple" Garden. Greens and flowers everywhere. Plus add some very sweet gud dugs and this must be heaven.
    Is that a very fabulous lavender table top BBQ sitting off to the left. Love the pop of color.

    cheers, parsnip and thehamish

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    Replies
    1. It looks nicer on film than in reality x

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  29. I agree .. That view is fabulous ..

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  30. That scene is my interpretation of heaven!

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  31. I retired from nursing 5 years ago after 36 years in healthcare. I still ache a bit inside when my daughter, daughter-in-law or niece (all RN's) tell me their stories. But, I'll never go back. Loving my new career as short story writer/full time homesteader. I am anything but "retired."

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    1. I hope to work part time in the local hospice.....its more my style

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  32. My nursing pension is tiny as I came to the profession later in life. If I decide to retire at 60, I will not nay receive a tiny national pension. My nursing one won't pay out until I'm 65,

    Raising children and being a stay at home wife isn't appreciated at all in Canada

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    1. Or the United States :(

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    2. If i had to stay until 65"' id be dead

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    3. I had a trip to ER due to my last shift last week. A huge wakeup call.

      The job isn't worth the stress it's causing.

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  33. John, yes fab I too am retiring at 55. Taking super an n running.
    Won,t just sit back, but find a little part time sociable job.
    Zoo,,art gallery, coffe shop who knows.
    Would it be worth your while going full time increasing hours for next 11 months as super an based on best of last 3 years, sure a killer but may be worth doing?.

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    1. Art gallery ? In wales? Pah

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    2. No I live in Edinburgh.
      What would you like to do?.

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    3. Well , i would like to work one shift a week in a hospice, and another in a coffee shop or a shop even.....

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    4. Maybe you can take over the pub, or reopen the village shop!

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  34. Yes can understand that. Guess I,m not far off burnout!. 3 years 8 months to go to retirement.
    Job has changed so much, not what I signed up for 34 years ago

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  35. Congratulations on being so close to retirement, John! I retired in July after teaching special education at high school level for 30 years. I highly recommend retirement! On to the second act so to speak! Have a plan!

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  36. I'm happy for you John, I must say your garden looks beautiful in this photo what a nice place to have a cup of tea and a Scotch egg.

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  37. Lovely view, none of ours stand so perfectly on the table, they just run up to it and knock everything flying !!

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