The last six months have been…interesting. Certainly I have no regrets about packing in full-time work when I might have carried on for some years yet. I don’t miss the daily grind – being at one’s desk for 9am, shifting into mental gear and only unwinding at the end of the day. 45 years of accounts and finance is enough. And even though it has given me a living it was still probably a path I wouldn’t choose again. Sure, it’s not coal mining or fighting ISIS, but I’m not sure it was ever my calling.
The first two months were a honeymoon period having been paid a generous bonus. I could afford to do absolutely nothing if I’d wanted. As it was, I stepped in to do a few shifts for a friend at the Channel Islands Military Museum. As Dire Straights put it, ‘That ain’t working, that’s the way to do it.’ And what with continuing my voluntary tour guiding at Mont Orgueil for Jersey Heritage, I was keeping out of mischief.
A great opportunity to kick my running onto a better level, you’d think, but disaster struck. My first-ever running injury after many years. A knee injury which basically put me out of action for months. I feared the worst at my age, it could have been the end of the running malarkey. However, with careful management, it’s much better now. Hopefully I can press on a bit now in the New Year.
There remains the issue of earning a living. The Jersey pension and other benefits might keep one alive, but not much more. I have savings but I’d eat through those quickly enough. So in the New Year, maybe some paid work with Jersey Heritage? A bit of part-time accounts work perhaps. But I’ve started doing a little freelance writing – a little classified ad in the local paper has indicated there might be a local market for that sort of thing. Certainly my diary is filling up nicely, so we’ll see how that goes.
And right now I’m helping out with the Christmas rush at Jersey Post. It’s an eye-opener, seeing what goes on in the beehive behind the scenes. Resources seem continually stretched, methods in some areas are (to my mind) somewhat archaic, but there’s no doubting that the guys and gals all work hard and well and I have great respect for everyone involved at the coal face there.
Finally, my apologies to my blogging friends. I’ve neglected my own blogging, but also the blogs of others. There is a backlog awaiting. It’s no reflection on you guys that I haven’t read, liked or commented on them for many weeks. I’ll try to do better.
Happy Christmas to one and all.
Jane Fritz said:
Youโre back and so are your Like button and Comment box. Life is good! Looking forward to continuing reports from Retirement Roy. ๐
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thanks Jane:-)
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E R Kendrich said:
I am also jobless and wondering what to do next! I’m thinking Christmas will be all the more relaxing because of it and that I might get more writing done. When I was at university, I spent every Christmas working in my local sorting office and I loved it – great atmosphere. Merry Christmas!
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thanks ER. Helping others with their projects is certainly a change from the business of creating your own stuff and then trying to sell it. I can’t say our sorting office has a Christmas atmosphere – everyone too busy trying to do twice as much in the same timeframe, like worker bees on speed. Roll on closing time on Christmas Eve. Happy holidays!
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chattykerry said:
Congratulations on your retirement and good luck with the new ventures. Think of it as a change in lifestyle. So sorry about your knee and my lack of contact. It has been an interesting year… Merry Christmas when it comes!
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Roy McCarthy said:
Hi Kerry. Yes it’s a change all right, which I’m enjoying. Nice to be a free agent with all its possibilities. Happy Christmas ๐
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candidkay said:
No apology necessary, Roy. I, too, have been neglecting my writing and that of my friends in the ether. Glad to see you back. And I’m sorry about the injury! Methinks the Universe was sending you some recuperation time to muse and rest . . .
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you Kristine. Certainly I won’t be drifting into a golf and alcohol-soaked retirement. Having to stay sharp and aware will do me good.
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Andrea Stephenson said:
It must be a big change Roy, not helped by the injury holding you back, but you seem to be finding a rhythm now and hopefully there’ll be some great – and enjoyable – opportunities coming in the new year.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Hi Andrea. Indeed that’s right, and it’s an enjoyable transition. Getting back running again will help too. Happy Christmas.
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Andrea Stephenson said:
Happy Christmas to you Roy.
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The Silver Voice said:
What a lovely post to update us on your new life. It seems to be a very busy life and itโs great that you are enjoying it to the full!
Wishing you a wonderfully exciting new decade and hopefully we will enjoy some of your writing too! Happy Christmas!
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you Angela. I really must try harder to keep lines of communication open. Yes, as you’ve found yourself, later life/retirement can be a great new start with new possibilities. Happy Christmas to you and your family.
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Browsing the Atlas said:
As someone who is looking at the retirement light at the end of the tunnel, I appreciate hearing the really-realtyโs of it. I expect at first it will seem like vacation, and then a puzzle of how to fit health, desires and money altogether. Weโre lucky weโre writers. I plan to get back into freelance writing, too. Maybe Iโd better start now!
Keep sharing. I need to know more of the realities of retired life.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Yes Julie, it takes a little getting used to, especially if you have no set plans. But, in my case anyway, it’s been liberating. Hopefully the writing gig will continue as well as it’s started.
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Annika Perry said:
Roy, I tried to answer when you posted this without success … seems to be working now.
Retirement seems to be suiting you well, and I’ve heard from so many family members and friends that they’re busier than ever once they left work! Good luck with the freelance accounts and I can well imagine this will be very successful for you and will probably be a matter of reining in how much you do. I’m so sorry to read about your injury and know how this must have upset you.
My husband is about to retire at the start of 2020 and he can’t wait … it’s already as if a weight has been lifted from him … it will an interesting and exciting year ahead! We will see how it goes financially otherwise he may return to part-time consultancy … or I may sell loads of books!!
Wishing you a good new year filled with lots of new ventures and running fit!
Cheers
Annika
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Roy McCarthy said:
Hi Annika, yes I’m loving the freedom and excited to see a possible future with the writing gig. I think there’s a little market for it here perhaps. I’m sure your husband will love it, though there will be an inevitable period of readjustment, Best wishes to you both for 2020.
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