things to do and eat in retirement
What does your ideal home look like?
Wanted to buy one like that on Canvey island high street in the seventies but first husband didn’t agree. Then a beautiful villa in Spain with holiday accommodation beneath for an income, a sweeping staircase with chaise langue halfway. The pool was against the mountain wall. Totally private. Second husband refused.
I’m choosing the retirement home. No stairs, communal pool, near surgeries, chemists etc.
What was the last thing you searched for online? Why were you looking for it?
Every morning I receive Good Morning messages from family and I feel obliged to reciprocate. Some images are really pretty. One friend loves butterflies and another is a birdwatcher, so I try to include them.
What do you think he meant by
“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”
I take it to mean going to school is boring and tough but if you stick with it, you will benefit greatly.
I stuck with it and enjoyed it too.
What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?
I have just been diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes so need to wear sunglasses, even in the shade. I have always worn Raybans or Zeiss lenses. Also have Polaroids.
Like the other lady said, reading glasses. I’m lost without them in the supermarket or chemist.
“Either give me more wine, or leave me alone”
Sounds like great minds think alike!!!
What’s the story behind your nickname?
My nickname was given to me by my father-in-law. It rhymes with Zanussi, the appliance of science. I think it suits me
At first he called me fatty banattee. That didn’t stick! I wasn’t fat.
Bees are an essential part of our ecosystem. Without bees it would cost our farmers £1.8 billion a year to pollinate our crops.
Since the 1900s the UK has lost 13 species of bee, with a further 35 in danger of extinction.
You could choose not to mow your lawn in May and June, leaving the dandelions to help the bees.
You could sew packets of bee and butterfly friendly seeds to create a little patch of countryside flowers.
Ivy in flower provides an amazing food source for bees in the autumn.
If you see a sluggish bee, dissolve sugar in warm water and offer to them on a spoon to give them an energy boost.
Buddleia bush is a heaven for bees and very easy to grow and lavender is a winner.
With the coronation of King Charles III looming, will you be tempted to buy souvenirs?
I am not sure what will increase in value to leave to my son and haven’t seen anything I fancy so far.
My husband has bought a couple of coins.
I don’t fancy a tea towel as they are usually made of a very stiff material that wouldn’t dry a glass easily. The mugs look very chunky and thick. I like fine china for my coffee and on the rare occasions I drink tea.
Rick Stein mentioned on a television programme in India yesterday that he remembered his mum reading this poem to him as a little boy.
It’s rather long but quite interesting.
On the Coast of Coromandel
Where the early pumpkins blow,
In the middle of the woods
Lived the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
Two old chairs, and half a candle,
One old jug without a handle--
These were all his worldly goods,
In the middle of the woods,
These were all his worldly goods,
Of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
Of the Yonghy-Bonghy Bo.
Once, among the Bong-trees walking
Where the early pumpkins blow,
To a little heap of stones
Came the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
There he heard a Lady talking,
To some milk-white Hens of Dorking--
"'Tis the Lady Jingly Jones!
On that little heap of stones
Sits the Lady Jingly Jones!"
Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
"Lady Jingly! Lady Jingly!
Sitting where the pumpkins blow,
Will you come and be my wife?"
Said the Yongby-Bonghy-Bo.
"I am tired of living singly--
On this coast so wild and shingly--
I'm a-weary of my life;
If you'll come and be my wife,
Quite serene would be my life!"
Said the Yonghy-Bongby-Bo,
Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
"On this Coast of Coromandel
Shrimps and watercresses grow,
Prawns are plentiful and cheap,"
Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
"You shall have my chairs and candle,
And my jug without a handle!
Gaze upon the rolling deep
(Fish is plentiful and cheap);
As the sea, my love is deep!"
Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
Lady Jingly answered sadly,
And her tears began to flow--
"Your proposal comes too late,
Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
I would be your wife most gladly!"
(Here she twirled her fingers madly)
"But in England I've a mate!
Yes! you've asked me far too late,
For in England I've a mate,
Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
Mr. Yongby-Bonghy-Bo!
"Mr. Jones (his name is Handel--
Handel Jones, Esquire, & Co.)
Dorking fowls delights to send
Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
Keep, oh, keep your chairs and candle,
And your jug without a handle--
I can merely be your friend!
Should my Jones more Dorkings send,
I will give you three, my friend!
Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
"Though you've such a tiny body,
And your head so large doth grow--
Though your hat may blow away
Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
Though you're such a Hoddy Doddy,
Yet I wish that I could modi-
fy the words I needs must say!
will you please to go away
That is all I have to say,
Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!"
Down the slippery slopes of Myrtle,
Where the early pumpkins blow,
To the calm and silent sea
Fled the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
There, beyond the Bay of Gurtle,
Lay a large and lively Turtle.
"You're the Cove," he said, "for me;
On your back beyond the sea,
Turtle, you shall carry me!"
Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
Through the silent-roaring ocean
Did the Turtle swiftly go;
Holding fast upon his shell
Rode the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
With a sad primeval motion
Towards the sunset isles of Boshen
Still the Turtle bore him well.
Holding fast upon his shell,
"Lady Jingly Jones, farewell!"
Sang the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
Sang the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
From the Coast of Coromandel
Did that Lady never go;
On that heap of stones she mourns
For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
On that Coast of Coromandel,
In his jug without a handle
Still she weeps, and daily moans;
On that little heap of stones
To her Dorking Hens she moans,
For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo,
For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
lifeinyourseventies 