Clearing out your deceased parent’s house is never a happy occasion. Not only are you grieving for your loss but the work can be a momentous chore. Only once the people have gone do you start to question the value of the items that have been kept, or hoarded in some circumstances. Of course, life … Continue reading What to throw away
From the sea to the lough
I’ve made it, finally. When I retired I set myself a few small challenges to fill my time. I’ve been reading books from authors from every country in the world (now on 151 of 196) and have been learning to draw. These are still ongoing. The challenge I have finished, however, is my walk along … Continue reading From the sea to the lough
From little acorns
I think I last wrote about my little trees back in August 2023. I’m pleased to say that most are still growing in their small pots on our back patio. I have a few rowan, a silver birch, a dwarf beech, a sessile oak and a few others that I can’t remember their names. How … Continue reading From little acorns
Drawing faces
If I say so myself, my drawing is coming along quite nicely. Ever since taking lessons, my confidence has grown. My eldest daughter bought me a little book for Xmas, encouraging me to sketch something every day. I’m over fifty days in and have managed to keep up so far. That is me all over … Continue reading Drawing faces
Goodbye LinkedIn
Image thanks to tictacseo. It’s that time of year when you try to make sense of the past and turn your thoughts to the future. I’ve long given up on resolutions but I have been thinking about what life is like as I get further and further away from work. One of the things I … Continue reading Goodbye LinkedIn
Getting there
For me, it has always been about the journey rather than the destination. I know this sounds like a cliche yet I don’t mean the physical act of traveling somewhere but rather the movement from one particular position to another. At work I was far more interested in seeing movement towards a desired objective rather … Continue reading Getting there
A Completionist
To be honest I had never heard the word until the other day when one of my connections on BlueSky used it. He was interested in my quest to read a book from an author born in every country in the world. He said ‘As a fellow completionist, I love this project, and am glad … Continue reading A Completionist
Monsters
I wrote a while back about my internal conflict in that I love the music of Wagner, even though there is plenty of evidence that he held some abhorrent views. I never met him so I only have what others have written to go on. It is no defence but his opinions were shared by … Continue reading Monsters
Swedish Death Cleaning
Image thanks to TheSpruce.com I’m not sure how to start this blog because, as is quite common, two related thoughts have popped into my head. Both of them are a bit random. The first is that nearly every town has an antique shop or two. The one in my mind is in Hexham and is … Continue reading Swedish Death Cleaning
Communication is everything
I’ve had a couple of incidents this week with the NHS, one with me and another with a close relative, in which the lack of communication has played a major role. Before I continue, I must say that the NHS is an amazing organisation. It is one of the best inventions ever and, despite its … Continue reading Communication is everything
Thoughts from a Guerrilla Worker 