The family have been in Florida for a fortnight, so there has just been the two of us rattling around in the house, which has had a good spring clean, but it won’t last long once they get home!

The fridge has been full and the washing machine and dishwasher think they’ve also gone into retirement!

Although we have missed them all, the peace, quiet and extra time has given us plenty of opportunity to do some repairs, tidying and painting but also relax and make a few plans.

Retirement so far as been a busy time. I think we made the right decision to take retirement in the summer months. We have been able to enjoy the benefits of living by the sea and spending time outdoors. Long warm days taking our time over life. Getting used to a slower pace, and getting out and about most days.

Now the nights are drawing in, the temperature cooling and the rain arriving, we are spending a little more time at home and starting to makes plans for the New Year.

As a retirement gift, we were lucky enough to be given ownership of a cherry tree for a year and this week we received our certificate confirming the type of cherry, colney 🍒 and the position our tree occupies on the farm. We are looking forward to invitations to see it growing and in blossom, then to be able to harvest the fruit in the summer months. What an unusual and special gift.

We have also been researching our trip to Italy. It appears the Amalfi Coast pretty much closes from the end of October through to the end of March. So we’ve had to adjust our plans of going away over our birthdays to consider April. Also one of our travel buddies has just unexpectedly joined the world of early retirees. Three down one to go 😂, which will make it easier to confirm dates with only one work holiday list to comply with. The Vesuvius National Park and Pompeii site are open all year round, albeit shorter hours in the winter months and the ferry still runs to Capri, but on a reduced schedule. We have also located where we need to be at Monte Cassino. All we need to do now is confirm dates and book. ✈️ 🌋.

In the meantime we have booked a couple of weekends away. We will be spending a couple of nights in London at the end of October, celebrating a friends 60th birthday, then a few nights at the end of November in Birmingham to see the Christmas Market. Omg did I actually say the ‘C’ word in October? I’m afraid I did. I’m not actually a huge fan of Christmas, maybe it’s because I’ve found it very stressful to organise whilst still working. Hopefully it’ll be more chilled this year. We haven’t been to a Christmas Market since we lived in Germany and evidently Birmingham’s is almost on the same scale. If so it will be magical. Maybe it will reignite my enjoyment of the festive season. We may also take the opportunity to visit a couple of National Trust sites in the area.

We have been debating whether to rejoin the National Trust or rejoin English Heritage. We had membership of the National Trust when we first moved to the house, but we were so busy with the building works and getting used to living with little people again, that we didn’t utilise it fully. Then a couple of years ago we joined English Heritage and enjoyed several great weekends away with Baz and Kaz, visiting lots of interesting sites.

However there are more National Trust sites closer to home, so we are thinking maybe this year we will become NT members. It will give us the opportunity to explore places locally, before the camper decision is made.

We are prepared for all weathers with waterproof jackets and walking boots at the ready and are looking forward to exploring some of these historic sites. Membership would also include the Grandkids, so they can sometimes come along for a run around in the gardens and a picnic.

Electric cycles, we have decided, are the way forward. I can hear the sharp intake of breath from cycling enthusiasts,  but we have to look after our poor old bones. We need to weigh up the benefits of exercise, with the need to avoid injury to already delicate backs and aching knees. We have been to get some advice on the different types and how they work. We’ve test ridden a couple and were surprised at how much assistance you can get if you need it, but they were also very comfortable to ride as normal.

Before we knew it we’d chosen the colours, handed over the cash and Bob’s your uncle, they were delivered today. Hold onto your hats, I’m sure there’s going to be some hilarious initial adventures. 🚴🚴‍♀️.

Our brood have returned today, so the tranquility will be shattered. We are however, looking forward to cuddles and seeing their excited faces as we hear all about their holidays.  We are going to break ourselves in gently though, spending two days with them, then we are off for our couple of days away in the big smoke!!!