The Retirement Thread

[PaulSB]

I noticed you mentioned switching the kettle on, then nothing. Never asked if I wanted a cuppa.

Sorry. I'll remember next time......

 

[ColinJ]

Is it a lemon tree?

Er...?

I thought it was on private land, old school site.

I don't know about old schools.

There used to be a medical centre there. It is where the evil Dr Shipman began his medical career!

 

[oldwheels]

Hello there. Been busy doing nothing since we got back from Exeter hospital where our daughter had a meeting with her surgeon. She is going to have her last operation next Thursday which should clear her of any cancer ramifications, followed by radio therapy 6 weeks later.
As I was going to return home for a couple of weeks next Monday, that won't happen now as she will need more help after the op so I am now planning to go back to Wales on the 11th or 12th to make sure the house is still standing and get vaccinated a few days later I heard for my age group. I also want to see my son before he goes back to Taiwan on the 24th.
Also, she will probably be moving in her new house at the end of February so more help needed there.
At least, my wife seem to be doing ok but she still feels tired quickly so not out of the woods yet I guess.
I will be glad when life gets back to normal and in my own house again. I know it sounds selfish and I shouldn't be saying it really.
Bonne nuit tout le monde.

Taiwan is taking the pandemic very seriously. Only 7 deaths I believe.
My son was sent out he suspects to test conditions. No comfy hotel room allowed this time. He was put into what seemed like a prison with cells to match and sent back pictures to Seimens who were a bit concerned at the conditions and he eventually got moved to an accommodation block for trainee police.
He has been in some appalling hotels in the Middle East in the past but never in solitary confinement.

 

[PaulSB]

@Mo1959 sorry to hear about your fall. I've had one dental appointment and two hospital appointments during the Covid-19 crisis. Having seen the levels of hygiene care I wouldn't hesitate to go to A&E if I suspected a broken wrist.

I would imagine your local A&E is probably a quietish one normally???

 

[BoldonLad]

Taiwan is taking the pandemic very seriously. Only 7 deaths I believe.
My son was sent out he suspects to test conditions. No comfy hotel room allowed this time. He was put into what seemed like a prison with cells to match and sent back pictures to Seimens who were a bit concerned at the conditions and he eventually got moved to an accommodation block for trainee police.
He has been in some appalling hotels in the Middle East in the past but never in solitary confinement.

My son recently had similar, before being allowed to join a ship in North Sea. Not uncomfortable conditions, ie a hotel, but, confined to room for 23 out of 24 hours per day, meals delivered to door. Almost like being in prison, except, better pay.

 

[oldwheels]

Been sitting with my right wrist elevated and hoping and praying it’s only sprained but suspect a fracture. There was ice under the snow. I saved myself a couple of times but third time unlucky and went down with a thump. It’s sore and a bit swollen. No way I want to go near hospitals just now. I’ll keep popping painkillers and keep it elevated and immobile as much as possible and see how it goes. Not easy on your own when it’s your dominant hand.

You should at least consult a doctor if it does not improve quickly and they can decide whether it is just a sprain.
Don't know where your nearest x ray facility is but there should be one nearer than Perth.
Hospitals at least here are pretty stringent and you should be perfectly safe unless perhaps in a ward with other patients.

 

[oldwheels]

My son recently had similar, before being allowed to join a ship in North Sea. Not uncomfortable conditions, ie a hotel, but, confined to room for 23 out of 24 hours per day, meals delivered to door. Almost like being in prison, except, better pay.

He would not have been in Taiwan tho'. In the past he had a hotel room but as soon as the new strain of virus appeared they went into full protective mode and everything was immediately tightened down. He was confined 24 hours per day and vast fines were threatened if he stepped outside his door.

 

[GM]

Sorry to hear that Mo, hope it mends quickly. A&E is the answer, better to be sure.

 

[gavroche]

Been sitting with my right wrist elevated and hoping and praying it’s only sprained but suspect a fracture. There was ice under the snow. I saved myself a couple of times but third time unlucky and went down with a thump. It’s sore and a bit swollen. No way I want to go near hospitals just now. I’ll keep popping painkillers and keep it elevated and immobile as much as possible and see how it goes. Not easy on your own when it’s your dominant hand.

If you think you have a fracture, I would recommend strongly to go to an hospital. It is safer than you think

Taiwan is taking the pandemic very seriously. Only 7 deaths I believe.
My son was sent out he suspects to test conditions. No comfy hotel room allowed this time. He was put into what seemed like a prison with cells to match and sent back pictures to Seimens who were a bit concerned at the conditions and he eventually got moved to an accommodation block for trainee police.
He has been in some appalling hotels in the Middle East in the past but never in solitary confinement.

Yes, my son is a bit concerned about his quarantine in similar conditions and is trying to arrange better lodging through the people he works for.
Last time, the Taiwan authorities paid £400 towards his hotel bill.
Regarding Covid, you are right though, the government there is taking more stringent measures than the UK and the results are there to back it : 7 casualties in a population of 20 millions.

 

[ColinJ]

I enter several competitions a day. I have won a few thousand pounds here and there, plus a few nice non-cash prizes. I always dream of winning a large cash prize though. If I won anything over £10k now that would comfortably see me through to my state pension.

So... I was just looking at a competition to win £50k and thinking how nice it would be to be able put £3k in the bank and buy £47k worth of Premium Bonds. Just checking the T&C, I spotted this...

We will sometimes (at our discretion) telephone entrants and ask them to speak on-air. They have the right to refuse. If they consent, their voice will be recorded and they consent to this recording being used on our radio broadcasts. Entrants agree that we will own this recording and that a copy of it will be stored for further exploitation, which may include promotion.

Entrants will not be put through to speak on-air if we think they are driving illegally, intoxicated, likely to swear, or otherwise offend our listeners. Whilst on air for the purposes of this competition entrants must not use foul language, swear, say or do anything defamatory or illegal or say or do anything which would damage the reputation of the Promoter, is offensive or inappropriate or which would cause us, or our listeners, harm. Failure to comply will result in disqualification, and if the entrant has won the prize, this will be forfeited.

My advice in that situation is to refuse to speak. Apart from the fact that you might end up making a fool of yourself, how awful to suffer this scenario:

Caller: "Hello, is that ColinJ?"
Me: "It depends... Who's asking?"
Caller: "Oh, yeah - it's Dick Famous-DJ from Kiss!"
Me (in mounting excitement): "Right... Yes, I'm ColinJ!"
Caller: "Colin - you are live on Kiss. I am just calling you to tell you that you are the lucky winner of our £50,000 jackpot!"
Me: "Oh that is effing brilliant! Eff me, I needed that effing cash! I effing LOVE you D..."

[Click] [Dial tone]

 

[GM]

Currently waiting in the car outside the surgery while Mrs GM has her jab, listening out for the screams!

 

[12boy]

Mo, my chiropractor always specifies cold for recent injuries involving muscles or connective tissue since it reduces swelling. It won't help with a broken bone, though. Better to find it isn't broken and you went to the ER for nothing than find you should of gone but didn't. Sadly, older folks bones break so much more easily.. get well soon..
It will be almost 4C with a light breeze here today. Almost all the snow was removed by the recent Chinook so the paths are clearish. Good day for a little ride. Probably should do a little in the garden or perhaps tree trimming.
I've noticed that y'all like to drink tea late or even if you have trouble with waking in the night and getting back to sleep. Is it some sort of decaf? If I have any caffeine after say 4pm, I find it much harder to go to sleep and harder to get back to sleep when I wake up during the night. How do you do it?
Vaya con Dios.....

 

[BoldonLad]

He would not have been in Taiwan tho'. In the past he had a hotel room but as soon as the new strain of virus appeared they went into full protective mode and everything was immediately tightened down. He was confined 24 hours per day and vast fines were threatened if he stepped outside his door.

No my son was in Nigeria when the COVID thing kicked off. Thankfully he got back to UK about June last year. Since then been working from home or “local”, ie Netherlands, etc

 

[Tenkaykev]

Mo, my chiropractor always specifies cold for recent injuries involving muscles or connective tissue since it reduces swelling. It won't help with a broken bone, though. Better to find it isn't broken and you went to the ER for nothing than find you should of gone but didn't. Sadly, older folks bones break so much more easily.. get well soon..
It will be almost 4C with a light breeze here today. Almost all the snow was removed by the recent Chinook so the paths are clearish. Good day for a little ride. Probably should do a little in the garden or perhaps tree trimming.
I've noticed that y'all like to drink tea late or even if you have trouble with waking in the night and getting back to sleep. Is it some sort of decaf? If I have any caffeine after say 4pm, I find it much harder to go to sleep and harder to get back to sleep when I wake up during the night. How do you do it?
Vaya con Dios.....

Hello 12boy,
I find that I can drink filter coffee up to about 7pm and sleep fine. As far as decaf goes, it is the work of the devil, some processes use chemicals to remove the caffeine from the coffee and I would rather not drink it at all than drink decaf.
On a similar-ish note, alcohol free beer. It used to be the case that the alcohol free beers were dire, I tried a couple of different ones many years ago, they were the usual lager style fizzy muck, I still ended up with a hangover the next day. The current crop can be outstandingly good, I've had some excellent low alcohol beers from small brewers, a real eye opener as to what can be done.
As to sleeping at night, it's not a problem for me, having a clear conscience and living an unblemished life of abstinence 🤥🤥

 

[oldwheels]

No my son was in Nigeria when the COVID thing kicked off. Thankfully he got back to UK about June last year. Since then been working from home or “local”, ie Netherlands, etc

A guy who is keen cyclist and handy mechanic lives just along the road from me said he was stuck in Nigeria for 12 weeks as the airlines had shut down. He also said he prefers to work on a ship out of sight of land as he thinks it less to be attacked by pirates. Strange times right enough.