When one retires you think that life will be gentle and calm and the days will flow on in a pleasant way. However, reality is so different. I seem to have so many things happening in my life all the time and it rare that I have a few days of contemplation and calm.
It is a month since I have had time to write. First, I had visitors (which I wrote about previously) then I went away on two different visits. One to Kent and the other to Suffolk and since I have come back there have been more visitors. As well as that I have quite a few regular activities I like to keep up with. Exercise classes, meeting friends and one or two societies.
I have a new activity. Last year I did some volunteer work with the Museum of London Archive department with the U3A and completed a presentation. This was quite a milestone for me and made me really keen on archaeology. When I heard there was a group in my local museum working on finds that were discoverd over many years, over several digs, I asked if I could join them. So I have been going on Thursday mornings just to help out. It is quite tedious work really, but a great feeling handling old shards and re-packaging and labelling them. Also it is nice to meet up with other people who are involved in this.
The history of the area is that in the '70's this old barn was discovered (it had been used for gardeners tools) to be an example of a Tudor Tithe Barn and money had been raised to renovate it and turn it in to a museum and heritage site. So I have visited this place over the years - to the museum - to listen to Sunday afternoon music concerts, to listen to talks and also on May day when they hold events. Now I am very slightly involved with it. This makes me feel good.
When I was in Suffolk I stayed in an old Suffolk Long House owned by friends of mine who have two very lovely Lurcher dogs. I go there often to look after the dogs and house while the owners are away. For me it is a wonderful experience to be out in the country in a really beautiful country village and to be with these lovely dogs. I must admit that they can sometimes be a bit of a handful (especially as I am getting older and don't have the strength I used to have when I first looked after them). I have been going there for more than 16 years - there have been different lurchers because as one dies they adopt another one. I am just very happy there. It is also a time to get away from the stresses of London life.
I still go on the monthly Sunday walks and the latest photo is above. The meeting place for this walk is at the old Tithe Barn.
