27 days and I’ll be free.
It was in the summer of ’71 that I rocked up at the staff entrance of Eagle Star Insurance in Birmingham to start my first job. I lasted six weeks.
Still, it was long enough for me to earn enough to buy my first single (Suspicious Minds – Elvis) and first album (Sounds of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel). My one abiding memory of Eagle Star was of the woman who signed in the staff, drawing a red line at 9.03am to heap shame on those arriving a few minutes late. I was often to be found below that line.
Strangely, those six weeks have long since been airbrushed from my c.v. Did they even happen?
So I’ll have been gainfully employed for 48 years, which I guess is par for the course. I can’t particularly afford to retire, but in that respect I’ll be in no better position next year or the year after. So I’m getting out at the right time, and for the right reasons. As a professional accountant I’ve long since lost interest in keeping up to date technically. The young kids coming through are light years ahead in that regard. And neither am I as sharp and accurate as I was. I could battle on for a while yet, but I no longer enjoy flogging into work every day.
Plans ahead? Yes, some vague ideas, but I aim to kick back for a little while at least and enjoy the sensation of not being under work pressure. Certainly I’ll find plenty to do – my neglected writing for one, various bits of voluntary activity on the other. (Jersey has a huge population of volunteers, particularly amongst the retired classes.) At the moment, for example, I’m enjoying doing a bit of tour guiding for Jersey Heritage, showing visitors around the fabulous Mont Orgueil. It seems I might have been repressing an inclination to take to the stage.
As my 27 days tick away I may reflect in this somewhat stuttering blog on my work career.
Jill Weatherholt said:
Suspicious Minds has always been one of my favorites. Congratulations on starting the retirement countdown, Roy! It will be wonderful! I’m hoping to follow your lead in a few more years.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you Jill. Funny I bought that one as Elvis was never my favourite 🙂
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equipsblog said:
Best of luck in retirement. Hope you enjoy it. It does provide more time for writing. Volunteering is also a good way to stay involved, get out of the house, and maybe provide some inspirations for the writing. (I’m there and doing all of these things.)
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you EQ. I don’t know where the world would be without volunteers.
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equipsblog said:
The world would be worse off without volunteers.
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Jane Fritz said:
Now that’s what I call exciting news, Roy! Good call. You have plenty on your to-do list that will provide a creative, healthy, and fulfilling life. You will be a model retired person! Enjoy your countdown; this time of life is a gift to be savoured. 😊
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thanks Jane. I’m pretty excited and fully intend to embrace the opportunity.
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nedmalet said:
Wonderful Roy, enjoy. I love guiding as a qualified Blue Badge Guide, it’s such fun.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thanks Ned. It’s a lot of work to qualify as a Blue Badge – I considered it once.
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nedmalet said:
Roy, kindly ping me a mail at nedmalet@gmail.com
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Annika Perry said:
Roy, enjoy the countdown to retirement and hope you’re having a party on the actual day! 😀 I’ve heard so many say that they’re so busy once retired, they never knew how they had time to work! Writing can definitely take a priority and the volunteering sounds like a terrific idea. Actually I’ve just been reading up about Mount Orgueil and might see you there as my husband and I are flying to Jersey at the end of the month to celebrate our wedding anniversary!
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Roy McCarthy said:
Oh wow Annika, you must come and see Mont Orgueil while you’re in Jersey. It would be my pleasure to show you around – roy.mccarthy@gmx.co.uk.
Yes indeed I intend to make best use of my time while I have my health, and there’s no excuse for not doing so in our beautiful island.
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Annika Perry said:
Roy, that would be great and I’ve just you an email!
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Browsing the Atlas said:
Oh, how I envy you, Roy! I have 5 more years and am already counting down. Like you, the technology is the piece that makes me want to quit working. It all seems like change for changes’ sake; none of the “new” applications does anything different than what we had before. It’s tiresome, and I would much rather be enjoying my golden years away from a computer.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you Juliann. The world has changed rapidly since I started off in accountancy. No more pencils, analysis paper, hours of reconciliations, looking through dusty files etc. Now it’s all systems-based and not much fun at all 😦 I don’t wish to stare at a screen any longer.
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lillyevechristie said:
Congratulations! you will love it, my husband retired in March and he just loves it so much, good luck to you!
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you Lilly and happy to know retirement is suiting your husband 🙂
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jennypellett said:
Happy times ahead Roy. Enjoy them!
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you Jenny, and good to hear from you. Hope you’re well.
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jennypellett said:
Thanks Roy, yes I’m fine. Just not blogging at present…but I’m still reading my favourites 😊
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Hamon Alexandra said:
D Day -24 ;);)
I’m sure you’ll enjoy it ! Congratulations on your decision Roy!
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you dear Alex. Now to write an exposé of my Bois & Bois years 🙂
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roughwighting said:
Exciting news! And the even better news is that you’re excited about it. My guy could be retiring but he’s having a difficult time with the fact that he’s ‘at that age.’ We’ll never have “enough” to retire on, but seriously, why wait? Let’s enjoy the freedom. Ahem. But, of course, I’m not planning on ‘retiring’ for several years. But my job is teaching creative writing. Yes, it takes me hours to prepare for my classes, but what a charge, to see my students get excited about themselves through their writing. Anyway, I look forward to reading more about your work life, and your ‘retired’ life. And if we ever get to Jersey (which I’m hoping to, at some point) I’ll see if you can be our tour guide!
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you Pam. I had no idea you were a creative writing teacher. And an excellent I’m sure. And indeed I concluded that you could put off retirement for ever – I had no wish to do that.
Well it would be great to see you both in our beautiful island. I’d love to show you around 🙂
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roughwighting said:
I teach adult students from the ages of 18 to 88 (seriously, one of my students will turn 89 soon…). They all sign up to learn more about themselves and to see if they can really be creative. They can! And we have lots of fun.
Now, if I can only find a creative way to fly your way and enjoy some “Jersey” time. 🙂
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Roy McCarthy said:
Very fulfilling – nice to be able to make a living out of something you really enjoy and excel at. And yes, do come ans see us 🙂
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ortensia said:
You sure won’t be bored …..😀
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Roy McCarthy said:
It’s true 🙂
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peterbuttonifa said:
Enjoy your retirement and it looks like you have a clear direction as to how it will be spent. As one of my clients who recently went into retirement reminded me; “every day from now on is a Saturday”. Enjoy the “Saturday’s”, well deserved!!!
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thanks Peter. Maybe I’ll write a thrilling exposè in the knowledge that I’m not worth sueing 🙂
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peterbuttonifa said:
I think you SHOULD!
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Janna G. Noelle said:
Congratulations on your upcoming retirement, Roy. I hope you’ll be afforded more time for writing and hanging out st the pub, and all your other favourite things.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you Janna – exactly, the things that matter but which we never have time for.
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