The Retirement Thread

[Dave7]

Been for a very pleasant little wander, just the local parks etc. Had nice views of a nuthatch, blackcap, dipper, siskin, greenfinch, lots of newly fledged blue and great tits, swifts overhead. The local burn was looking very summery, if that’s a word.
View attachment 592002

Excellent. Lovely birds, all of them.

 

[Sterlo]

What a faff that was, Hospital appointment for my Good Lady this morning, routine check up, with her mobility problems she can't get in the car so it was a bus job, over an hour later, 2 buses and £6 lighter in the pocket, the appointment was too early for our passes, we arrived with a minute to spare. Not being familiar with Coventry's buses, we rarely use them, I didn't pick the best route out, we took the 3 to the Bus interchange at the Arena Shopping Park then the Hospital bus from there and saw parts of Coventry I haven't seen before. The appointment was done in a quarter of an hour, we stopped for a cuppa at the Hospital cafe then we were on our way back, this time we took the 9 going through the city centre, hopped of in Far Gosford street and got the bus home from there, far easier. Since we got back one of our neighbors has given us the number for hospital transport so I'll investigate that for next time, I suspect she won't qualify but its worth looking into.

Don't get me started on buses, one of the downfalls of living out of town. Managed to get a physio appointment for my arm rehab, as our buses only run every 2 hours or so, we had to get an 11.20 bus for a 2.00 appointment (which lasted a full 20 mins!) and get the 3.30 bus back home again, with walking we were out of the house for 5 hours for a 20 minute visit.
If anyone's interested, I managed to get a phone pic of my x-ray. Now got to wait 6 months to see if I need another op to take the bottom part out

 

[classic33]

Yes.

Enquire about using the passes for hospital appointments, where you'll be travelling before 09:30.

Many bus companies relaxed their rules within the last 10 months on this. Appointment letter may be required as proof.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Just been listening to a great interview on The Cycling Podcast with someone who gets out in the day even earlier than @Mo1959 . Check out his photo’s on http://www.theartoftheride.com/, just stunning.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-cycling-podcast/id665713706?i=1000523629640
Here's a taster from a project he had published in the NY Times

 

[ColinJ]

My blood test results were 20% of the way back to normal this time rather than the 100% last time. I suspect that I will be getting a call from the clinic in a few hours time to discuss changing my dosage...

My guess is that they will ask me to stop taking the extra mg that I take on Saturdays and Sundays.

I just had my call from a woman at the anticoagulation clinic. They want to make a temporary reduction of 2 mg a day for the next 2 weekends and then do another blood test.

The clinic has hundreds of patients in this area and the woman told me that they have seen a large number of patients with the same results as me after the Covid jabs! They think it is a temporary effect, but it is fairly significant.

Hopefully, the temporary change will get me back on track and then I would go back to my normal dose.

 

[Juan Kog]

Yes, but it was too early to use it, we used our passes on the way home, travelling after 09:30 and we could use them.

We are fortunate in Hertfordshire , bus passes are valid at all times for travel within the county.

 

[ColinJ]

Just been listening to a great interview on The Cycling Podcast with someone who gets out in the day even earlier than @Mo1959 . Check out his photo’s on http://www.theartoftheride.com/, just stunning.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-cycling-podcast/id665713706?i=1000523629640
Here's a taster from a project he had published in the NY Times
View attachment 592017

He is CycleChat member hoopdriver and there is a thread about it HERE!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

From my facebook page this afternoon.

 

[Juan Kog]

In certain areas, that would be... "Hey, look at me - please beat me up and steal my Rolex!!!"

Many years ago my SiL gave me a Rolex watch , it was £13 from the back streets of Hong Kong . A very reliable watch which I used for a long time.
late one evening I was travelling home from work , waiting at a near deserted station. I was approached by a young man late teens , " got the time mate " he saw my watch , calls to his group of friends " he's got a Rolex " . I thought this could end badly for me ,so I very quickly pointed out it was a Hong Kong Rolex.

 

[Dave7]

A wheelchair-friendly hospital taxi would be good!

The service I used was a minibus with about 16 seats. I was patient #3 and we filled the bus with another 12 or so on the way to the hospital. We then did the same in reverse on the way back. It would not be too bad if you were one of the ones living nearer the hospital, but I lived 13 km away.

We are fortunate in Hertfordshire , bus passes are valid at all times for travel within the county.

Where my Bro lives they get free bus, local train and even the ferry.
We get a choice of.......
1. Free bus after 0930
OR
2. Discounted train fair.
Pre Covid we would often jump a bus, go to town, have a nosey around and lunch.....a pleasant day out.

 

[Dirk]

Many years ago my SiL gave me a Rolex watch , it was £13 from the back streets of Hong Kong . A very reliable watch which I used for a long time.
One late evening I was travelling home from work , waiting at a near deserted station. I was approached by a young man late teens , " got the time mate " he saw my watch , calls to his group of friends " he's got a Rolex " . I thought this could end badly for me ,so I very quickly pointed out it was a Hong Kong Rolex.

I've got a £5 Hong Kong Rolex.
Had it for 20 years or so and it still keeps good time. Changed the battery a few times.
If anyone decides to mug me (silly idea) they are welcome to it.

 

[Mo1959]

Just been listening to a great interview on The Cycling Podcast with someone who gets out in the day even earlier than @Mo1959 . Check out his photo’s on http://www.theartoftheride.com/, just stunning.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-cycling-podcast/id665713706?i=1000523629640
Here's a taster from a project he had published in the NY Times
View attachment 592017

Is this the same guy that’s in the forum? Hoopdriver?


Oops. Just noticed Colin already mentioned above.

 

[Juan Kog]

late one evening I was travelling home from work , waiting at a near deserted station. I was approached by a young man late teens , " got the time mate " he saw my watch , calls to his group of friends " he's got a Rolex " . I thought this could end badly for me ,so I very quickly pointed out it was a Hong Kong Rolex.

I've got a £5 Hong Kong Rolex.
Had it for 20 years or so and it still keeps good time. Changed the battery a few times.
If anyone decides to mug me (silly idea) they are welcome to it.

my concern at the time was I would get a good kicking twice , first when they stole the watch . Then again when they returned after they discovered it was a fake .

 

[oldwheels]

Where my Bro lives they get free bus, local train and even the ferry.
We get a choice of.......
1. Free bus after 0930
OR
2. Discounted train fair.
Pre Covid we would often jump a bus, go to town, have a nosey around and lunch.....a pleasant day out.

If I want I can have free bus travel and a discount ferry ticket for £1.50 return on the Oban to Mull run. I cannot use the bus for a variety of reasons but if I can get a rare car booking I take the ferry discount.

 

[12boy]

Juan, your 2 kicking story reminds me of the guy who left his accordion in his unlocked car and when he returned there were 2 accordions there.