What to do, now that I was no longer a slave to the alarm clock?

We agreed, my not-retiree husband and myself, to try to leave the house at least once in the working week in order to ‘do something’ that isn’t shopping or some other mundane activity.? There are a few lovely parks in the vicinity and we want to make sure we walk enough in the short term to keep us mobile in the long term.? However, my first wish, ever since I had made the decision to leave gainful employment, was to have our holiday in term time.? After the lovely wedding?of our son at the beginning of the summer, we let the rest of July and August drift by, just enjoying the fact that I wasn’t chained to my computer in a planning frenzy.? Our get-away was to be to friends – other retirees – in September!? We arranged this guilty pleasure and waited eagerly until the moment arrived.

I really did feel like a naughty child as we packed the car and left, having cunningly avoided the morning rush hours to work and school.? We made our way across London, up the M40 and into the wilds of Central England.? We had lived in the Potteries when we were first married and it always feels like going home, in spite of all the other places we have lived, both in and out of the UK.

Arriving at our destination brought the next flutter of my heart.? We really were away during the week, during the term.? Part of my hope for this visit – aside from spending quality time with good friends – was to learn from them how to be retired.? I was certain that there were many tricks and wrinkles (sorry!) that it would otherwise take time to acquire, so I wanted to steal a march.? The first advice, shown not vocalised, was that you get dressed when you want/need to!? I think I already knew that, intellectually, but needed some polishing.? So, Rule One – You only finally give in when there is somewhere to go.

The second handy hint was quite simple, really.? You have lots of time to plan and execute a good meal.? Missing an ingredient?? Pop out and get it -? now! Due to this relaxed way of thinking, we ended up, variously, with an excellent fish pie and – something none of us had eaten for a long time – a cheese and apple flan.? Some things only happen with the right people.

Third piece of advice – take advantage of going out whenever you want to.? We belong to the National Trust and there are a number of properties in Staffordshire and Cheshire.? We visited many of them when we lived there, forty years ago, but some we never managed to get to or they were not open to the public at the time.? The beautiful Styal Mill was a spectacular, if overwhelming, example of a cotton mill, both inside and out.

The gardens were also enchanting and, as I looked around the many other people who were strolling through them, it was obvious that we had joined a club – almost everyone was ‘of a certain age’.? The wildlife was especially accommodating and sat around for more than long enough for me to photograph it.

After several sleeps, we moved down to Hubby’s sister in Norfolk for another couple of days of indulgence.? Different pace but relaxing all the same and another NT property, Ickworth, that we had never seen.

It was hard to turn around and head for home.? We had tasted life without work and it was good,? Now thinking about the next trip … in term time … of course!