On The Scrapheap ...

It used to be that people would refer to themselves as being on the scrapheap upon retirement. I am now, officially, into day 3 and sense no creeping rust.

I am currently reading several books in rotation - Pamela gave me the Essential Guide to the National Gallery of Ireland (NGI) for my 70th and I am lining up the paintings I want to see when next I am in Dublin! Pauline gave me the New Naturalist 'The Burren', published just weeks before my birthday and that is shaping this May's trip there. Then for Christmas, P gave me 'Ireland's Green Larder', a history of the country through its food and 'The Immortal Yew', a tree that has fascinated me for years and ex-colleagues hope I shall write something about the yews of Dover. I can't leave this list without mentioning Pamela's Christmas gifts to me, which knocked me out - the history of the NGI and the restoration of the painting - The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife, which first took me to the NGI.

This loops neatly back to my retirement and a most happy Christmas in Ireland.

The last few days at work were spent clearing old files etc., then on 30 November I went in for my last day. My colleague June had done what she loves doing - plenty of decorations etc. The leaving was pleasant and I was rather touched that RW and JI spent some time chatting - they were both good people to work with and R recalled how we first worked together on the Kingsdown sea defences back in '97. We then went off for a decent lunch in Deal and with a momentary twinge of regret I drove away. My official leaving was not until 1st January 2019, but with taking leave due, I was a free agent, although with just 3 weeks to go before Ireland and much to do, things were a bit of a blur.

The trip to Dundalk on the 20th was easy and, surprisingly, it was Pamela who welcomed us - she had switched work days and went in the following day. Dinner was from the Roma, followed by a visit to Kennedy's and our first lock-in. We had not been successful in the Newgrange draw and given the weather forecast decided to give that a miss which was fine as the weather there was, reportedly, dreadful! In the evening we went to the Crowne Plaza to eat.

On the 22nd we went to Newry and Warrenpoint, both of which we enjoyed and we were particularly taken with Warrenpoint which gave us further ideas about future moves. Until now neither Pamela or I had dressed but on the 23rd we went with M to Ravensdale for photos and an unfortunate, but harmless, accident when a beam on the bridge crumbled. My leg was a bit mucky, so we returned to the house and changed before going off to Blackrock for even more pictures! We ate in and then we went out to the pub - Kennedy's was very busy and we went down to The Jockeys which was almost empty!

We still had presents to get and on the 24th went to Drogheda for a bustling but very pleasant time, ending up in a nice cafe in the town centre. Food from the Roma had been organised that evening. We stayed in that evening as the ham was being cooked.

On Christmas Day we dressed. I interviewed Pamela, not very well, and then we took snaps by the tree and outside. Pamela wanted to change to help Mary and that seemed the right time for me as well as I find too many changes unsettling. We had a really nice and straightforward dinner and a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

For St Stephen's Day I wore my black dress and then had another enjoyable dinner before returning to The Jockeys. On the morning of the 27th, while Pauline got ready, I took Pamela out for some pictures around Dundalk. Some of those worked and she posted two on flickr. Then it was time to say farewell before we headed to Dublin Port. We stayed at the Travelodge in Holyhead before heading back to Kent on the 28th.