Nine Feet Underground

Despite some medical challenges (maybe more on that later), I'm enjoying life more and more as I get into the retirement state of mind.  There is much to do, though there are still things holding me back, things out of my control. As I write this I am in Liverpool, having just returned from a trip to the City Centre earlier. This was primarily a recce, with a bit of shopping and a coffee (and pain au chocolat) in the Bold Street Coffee shop. No daytime trip to Bold Street can miss a visit to ' News From Nowhere ', an independent bookshop that always contains something unexpected. Like me.  My being there is not that unexpected in reality, nor is the fact that I didn't leave empty-handed. The primary reason for this visit was to begin to familiarise myself with the City. How the streets hang together.  I'm working on it still, but Google maps was essential to help me find one shop, which is a little tucked away, or seems to be. Having made this introductory visit, I...

Notes from the edge. The latest bulletin. Having the freedom to use your time as you wish is not as straightforward as it might seem. God knows how many years of getting up and being driven by the clock takes a lot of unlearning. I do get up later. A bit.  My thinking, however, still struggles to draw the logical conclusion.  Today, for the first time, I decided to walk before showering (there's no rush to get it done) and take my time, having breakfast nearer to ten-thirty. I still want to maximise the use of my time, but I guess I don't need to be so clock-driven. Another thing I think I'm finding (though this may take a while longer for a conclusion) is that I need to exercise my brain still. A lot.  To that end I continue to learn German,  I have the puzzle that is ' Cain's Jawbone ' to attempt, I have courses I'm doing not to mention hobby-related stuff that is quite complex. I've also started cooking more from scratch again and am making my own gin...

A January date in double figures - already!   After narrowly surviving a mass DVD landslide in my office, I am in the process of selling some and giving a whole load more to whichever charity will accept them.  CDs take note! This is what happens to media that attempts to kill me, unsuccessfully.  I daren't say this too loud, as I haven't even considered the books yet. I fear they have a greater chance of success on the killing front, as opposed to DVDs and CDs, which, unless really lucky (e.g. a disc severing an artery - what are the odds?), can only expect to cause injury or maiming. I feel that this week is my first week of retirement proper, though even now I am not fully organised to enjoy.  I need to stop and spend some time thinking about what I want and what would make me happiest, apart from exacting revenge on some errant DVDs.  There's been so much to do this week and I've spent time creating the first pass at a large list of things that need doi...

First post of 2024 - Happy New Year! Q and I saw the new year in with M and A in Berlin, having flown there on New Year's Eve evening.    We spent the week in Berlin, the first part at M and A's house near Gatow, then the remainder at a hotel in Central Berlin for Q's birthday.  We crammed a lot into the week, including a New Year's Day sausage party (!?!) with some of M and A's neighbours.  It was really cool to participate in typical German every day life.  Certainly not the wurst way to start the year. As for NYE, Berliners really love their fireworks. Weapons grade, I would guess.  There was literally a continual barrage for several hours, way past midnight.  Apparently people get fireworks from Poland and then combine them to make even more powerful explosions.  As you might expect serious injuries are not uncommon with people blowing their heads off. Crazy.  Given what Berlin has endured in the past it seems odd. Other highlights includ...