Went to our new church this morning, where I sat in the pews with Ed. Interesting seeing church from the other side. People were very friendly and it was a good service, very familiar so we felt at home.
Al turned up this afternoon, bringing his small flat screen TV for me. Eldest daughter gave it to him a year or so ago for a birthday or something, but now he’s living on his own he’s bought himself a big screen job. He set up the little one for me to use with my Wii. The family bought me a Wii a year or so ago for birthday or something and buy me new Wii DVDs on any excuse. Now I’m the proud possessor of the latest gimmick – a motion sensor plus. Actually it’s really good and I had a great game of table tennis. Al played a sword game, chopping down opponents like a swash-buckling James Bond. (What is swash-buckling, by the way? Sounds kind of flashy and sword-like.)
Ed finished the lounge in two days, although he still has to do the woodwork and put up the wood pole for the curtains. To be honest, not entirely sure about the colour (peach) but daren’t say so. Perhaps it’ll grow on me.
Tomorrow is the final bank holiday of the year, but for the first time ever, it doesn’t feel like it. Ed and I have resolved to get out for a walk rather than simply cooking, cleaning gardening… Life is so busy once you’re retired!
I’ve now finished all the thank yous, which is a great relief. I have two further pieces of work to complete for Redemptorist Publications (I freelance for them from time to time and hope that tiny source of revenue continues!) but they are both well under way. Then I shall be free (I think) to concentrate on the next novel, the new keyboard, the Wii, golf…
Hmm. It’s not exactly a rest cure, is it?
Ed is busy decorating the lounge. He said it would take a week, but since he’s nearly finished the first coat in a day, I think he might have been erring on the cautious side.
Rachel next door (to the Rectory) rang up to give us the latest update on the cat, so I invited her up for the day next Friday. She was pleased and I know we’ll have a good day together.
I had a phone call last night from some very old friends who live in the Midlands but come this way on holiday each year to a static caravan on the coast. They’re coming over for the day the following week so you can see our social diary is already alight with engagements.
I keep well out of the way when Ed’s in decorating mode (it being safer that way) so whizzed off to the Farm Shop on my bike. It’s the first time I’ve ridden it for ages and it was great. Called in at the surgery on the way to book in with new doctors. It seems we both have to have a once-over with the nurse as new patients. What a bore! All right for Ed, he’s falling apart, but I’m fit and healthy. I don’t want to go, but suppose I must. I’ll put it off for as long as possible.
Got started with the new keyboard and have at least discovered how to get the sound of different instruments. I’m sure you need a PhD to really get to grip with it though, so I may never know its full potential.
Oh well. Keeps me happy.
Life really is full of surprises. Eldest daughter, sin-in-law and granddaughter all came to the service on Sunday evening, then went home prior to leaving on their Harley-Davidsons (three-year-old granddaughter goes in the side-car) for a motorbike rally in Scotland. And yes, I worry until I get a text message to say they have arrived.
Duly received message last night (it’s a long way from here to Scotland), but here comes the surprise.
It seems my sin-in-law is now my son-in-law! Just received a text with a photo of their wedding in Scotland. I’m so thrilled, although still in a state of shock. They had always said they would just go quietly away and get married when they were ready, but I had no idea anything had been arranged.
Can’t wait to see the photos. And can’t wait to tell Ed, when he gets back from golf!
Today is the first day of the rest of my life.
Fantastic service last night, dreamed up and led by Nigel the Curate, where Ed and I were guests of honour. The church was packed and such nice things were said about us that I wondered who they were talking about. Felt quite embarrassed and yet it was so heart-warming and lovely. So many people offering us their love. Amazing. The choir sang Rutter’s ‘Benediction’ especially for us, the hymns were all chosen by Ed and me, and my great friend the rural dean preached.
Afterwards there was a reception with great food in the church rooms, and they all presented us with gifts – a wooden garden lounger for Ed, a keyboard and stand for me, and an Acer tree for both of us. Ed gave the thank you speech and did it brilliantly with lots of humour.
But the Acer is nine feet tall, so there was no way it was going to fit into Ed’s car. Nigel the curate brought all the gifts over this morning in his Dogmobil (did I tell you that his new car was white so he had paw prints added going up over the boot and ending with a cartoon dog splatted on the bonnet?) Nigel stayed all morning chatting about last night. I’m really going to miss the weekly chats with him. I valued them so much.
As it was getting on for 1.00pm when Nigel left, Ed and I drove down to the Garden Centre for lunch (saves us cooking this evening – we’re not yet into the swing of this retirement thing) and bought some compost for the new Acer while we were there, plus tomorrow’s supper from the Farm Shop.
Ed is now planting out the new tree (it looks terrific) and when I’ve finished blogging I’m going to unpack the keyboard and have myself some fun!
I think I’m going to enjoy retirement!
Just home from taking my last wedding. At one stage wondered whether it would ever happen since twenty minutes before the service was due to start, no one had arrived. No guests, no groom, no best man and no orders of service.
Still, they eventually sauntered up. Then it was the turn of the photographers. They took a quarter of an hour snapping the bride and bridesmaids at the lych gate, while I twiddled my thumbs.
When at last the service started (very late) it went well. The bride was beautiful, the bridegroom handsome and even the two small page boys behaved well. And the bride and groom had even thought to bring with them a card wishing me a happy retirement. I’m amazed and touched that they found the time to do that.
I hugged Joe the organist (aged 87) and gave him a kiss since we probably won’t meet again. Tomorrow night’s big farewell service is in a different church.
I popped to the rectory, just down the road, picked up one message on the answer phone and a load of cards from the doormat. Then it was back to our new home, a bungalow just half an hour’s drive away and just outside Norwich.
Tonight the family are coming over for a birthday dinner and tomorrow night they are all coming to the farewell service.
Then that’s it. Goodbye to Rocking Rectory.