Friday 21st March 2025

And so, the day arrived.

As I had finished the report, I could have an extra lay in before getting up, having a shave and shower before coming downstairs to put the bins out, do the feeders and make a coffee as Jools had already left for her weekly yoga class.

I logged on, and after a couple of farewell calls, I take shots of the few receipts I had from the last Danish trip, then send them to my work e mail and create and submit my last travel expese.

I could have gotten away, I guess, with not doing it, but I thought I had better.

That gave me a couple of hours in which to stare into space.

At ten there was the presentation of the report, which took just about the whole hour, then another half hour before my farewell meeting with colleagues left in the company. I had collected shots from the 15 years of my time in the company, and talked over stuff I did at the time.

Twenty minutes and it was over.

No more to say.

I say thanks to each and every one of them, those who could not make the meeting, and those that have left the company.

Closed the meeting.

And after closing all programs, close the laptop down for the last time.

My first task as a retiree was to be on The Danny Baker Show pod, The Treehouse, yet again, regaling with tales of volcanoes and the most dangerous road in Indonesia. They were thrilled when they found out I had retired just twenty minutes before.

And then.

I put the computer away ready for the last trip to head office next week, separating stuff that is useful. Notebooks collected for a ritual (small) bonfire, then lunch of Spanish lentil stew.

Jools was having a haircut, so Scully and I watched Bangers and Cash for a couple of hours.

Jools returned, had a shower and we had a brew, before the long hour before the music quiz.

Sadly, I leap early, but err, badly. It was not Hawkwind but twas Todd Rundgren.

Off then to Jen's for a slap up supper of a Chinese takeaway, with Sean and Ange coming along, and downed with strong Belgian beer and good red wine.

Heck, there was even cake.

Which did not mix well with the beer and takeaway, but that's what having fun is all about.

Jools drove us home, already England had beaten Albania, so to bed it was. To sleep, perchance to dream.