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Life Begins @…..

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To continue the old saying …. 40.  However, when I turned 40 life was much the same I had 3 years left to serve in the Royal Air Force.  It is hard to believe that I have been retired for one year.  I took early retirement on 31st March 2011 and in May that year I turned 60.  It is hard to belive how quickly the time has passed during this first year of retirement.  Apart from one spell of unemployment I have been working since the age of 15, I’m not used to long lie ins and I still get up at 6 am.   Looking back on the past year I reckon that my life began at 60.  Here is my reasoning:

April 2011

Coach trip to Ireland – along with Susan.  Not the best time to see Ireland, especially Killarney but it was a taste of what was to come.  I’ll not name the coach company, suffice to say that I am not enthralled to any coach company trips after my experiences.

(C) Susan Wales 2011

(Ireland Photo Album) See Ireland Day 1, Ireland Day 2, Ireland Day 3, Ireland Day 4, Ireland Heading Home

During my RAF days I served in Europe and had been telling Susan about the places I had seen. When she told me she had not seen the Rhine or heard the legends of the Rhine George (Koblenz to Boppard) we booked a Rhine River Cruise with Phoenix Holidays.See Bulb Field Tour Day 1, Bulb Field Tour Day 2 Part 1 , Bulb Field Tour Day 2 Part 2, Bulb Field Tour Day 3 , Bulb Field Tour Day 4

May 2011

We survived the 4 day cruise and were now looking forward to our 7 day cruise up the Rhine.  As we bade farewell to our former travelling companions we had the day in Amsterdam – so we took a canal cruise, well one does you know. To be honest we did not get to see half the things we wanted to see but we enjoyed ourselves.  Well that was until we got back on board the ship to find that our River Cruise had turned into a Coach Tour.  – Not a happy Walter at all, Susan took it in her stride as usual.  (Amsterdam Photos).

All was not lost, they did give us a day trip on a river cruise from Boppard to Rudesheim.  Boppard is the start of the “Romantic Rhein”, the Rhine Gorge” where the legends of the Lorelei, the Rhein Maidens, Charlemagne and the Vines.  along with the Mosel the Rhine is also famous for its wine.  We come back to this at a later date :)

(Photos of Rhine tripRhine Coach Trip 2, Rhine Coach Trip 3, Rhine Coach Trip 4Rhine Coach Trip 5, Rhine Coach Trip 6

The next few weeks we took day trips to Alnwick Castle, Stirling Castle, Stanley Mills and of course Edinburgh whilst we were waiting for our next tour in June – Wales – The Little Trains. of Wales

June / July 2011

Coach  trip again.  It reinforced my opinion on organised coach tours.  However , I will give the driver of this tour all credit as he coped extremely well with the narrow streets we encountered in the villages we passed through.

See Little Trains

July saw The Intrepids visit, Culzean Castle, Royal Botanical Gardens, Linlithgow Palace – (Knight School), Stirling Castle, (See He who holds Stirling)  in addition we paid a visit to Skye.

Our good friend Annie from Wetherby came up for a couple of days for a visit, Susan and Ionwen (another friend) had discussed paying a visit to The Cullins of Skye – a place I have never been to.  I was advised that people travelled from all over the world to see these Munros – and go away not seeing them due to rain.   Just in case you have never seen the Black Cullins the picture on the left was taken on 21st July 2012.  See The Road to Skye  and Skye – A bridge over water too far (Photo Album)  However, the main trip in July /August was our second Rhine Trip – Koblenz to Basle.

July / August 2011

We are Sailing  – well we were at that time.  Yes on the Rhine again, this time doing the best part – yes we had seen part of it  Boppard – Rudeshiem on a previous boat trip, but the commentary was in German.  Once again our trip was on the MS Arlene.  We boarded the ship Andernach were we stayed over night.  Following day we set off early to make our way to Koblenz and the start of a great weeks cruise up the Rhine to Basle.  See Koblenz to Rudeshiem, Rudeshiem to Basel.

Arriving back home on 4th August I felt tired as a result of skin infection on both legs – Thankfully we had no trips or outings planned.  Susan would be involved in the Edinburgh Fringe, I was ordered to rest with legs up and given several courses of antibiotics (ugh).  This gave me time to catch up on my photographs and blogs, using the laptop.   Our last adventure in August was to see the Royal Military Tattoo.  Now I’ve served in the RAF and avoided tattoos and parades like the plaque, now I am out I felt it was about time I saw this live rather on TV.  Yep I have never seen the Tattoo  live (Album).  See Black Bags Not Needed (Blog)

September 2011

Relatively quiet month – due to continuing problems with the skin infection.  However, me and Susan did make a nice trip to Castle Gloom nd then Huntingtower and the penultimate European trip – yes on the Rhine again.  I did mention I had served in Germany whilst in the RAF.  One of the big attractions there is the Rhine in Flames.  This takes place 5 times between May and September and is well worth seeing.  It is popular with all. See Rhine in Flames (Blog) the following photo albums show Cologne Cathedral, Boppard, Rhine in Flames and Rotterdam, (Rotterdam Blog)

Hetic life this globe-trotting – September also saw us paying a visit to Susan’s home ground.  Ey Up Lass, She a Manchurian Gal is our Susan.  I’m assured that Manchester is like Skye – no not scenery wise, but weather wise.   Susan said it rains more in Manchester than it does in Skye – but I think not.  Either that or I really am a sunny person, our visit to Skye was a success, lots of sunshine and I saw the Cullins first time.  Manchester was the same – it was a 4 day heat wave, a late or Indian Summer. I had my doubts about the trip – but I really enjoyed it and the Metro in Manchester.  Man that was a great day ticket travel anywhere on the metro.  Okay it does break down so I am told and judging by the announcements breakdowns are frequent – I found it great.  Blog here Album here

Still with me?  Great :)   Bet your glad with the next comment. ;)  October was rest month and boy did we need it.  We did have days out in Edinburgh but in the main it was relax recuperate and get photos, blogs up to date.  November – the onset of winter, dark nights – and fog.  Mind you I do not recall seeing as much fog in November.

November 2011

Once again we were heading for Europe our ultimate excursionto the continent, this time Belgium.  Yes, not Germany or the Netherlands but good old Belgium.  To Chocoholics the only place to be.  We were heading to Brussels  to see Andre Riue and His Jonathon Strauss Orchestra give a concert.  Sid was (and still is ) an avid fan of Andre and had managed to Susan and me hooked as well.  Apart from the concert evening there was a trip to Bruges as well.  I’ll not say anything about the coach trip – but it put the final nail in coach trips coffin for me.  Anyway the full story can be read in The Intrepids blog here. The album here  My most outstanding memory of this trip was the Police Motorcycle Escort through the heart of Brussels – everything, including the trams were stopped as 12 Uk Coaches were escourted to the venue.  Now I coudl do with that type of coach escort all the time :)

Wait we are not finished with November yet – our final out of Scotland trip for 2011 was a trip to London.

London, what does that conjure up for you.  Smog, fog, unfriendly folk, arrogant and snubbing.  Well it did to me – but I recall the East Enders – no not that pathetic soap on TV, the real East Enders – the dockers, “them whot lived by the river”.  They may have been uncouth to some, but during the 1977 Firemen’s strike I was sent to London, along with many others on fire duties.  Tales I have, too many so will not bore you – but I have a soft spot for the real East Enders.  All gone now – the docks, the houses. Where I did fire fighting is now Canary Wharf – the humble shacks are gone, now mega expensive flats and businesses.   Once again we were lucky with the weather.  See blogs Here, here and here photo, photo album can be found here.

December 2011

Cold and dark, wet as well – not many outings, Glasgow, Edinburgh Argaty – but mainly resting and planning for  2012.

2012

Ah those adventures will be told during 2012.

Yes for me life began at 60 in more ways than one.  Do I miss work – no, do I miss the pressure No, do I miss my former colleagues – some yes, though we have lost touch.  Have I regret retirement no.  I am at last learning to relax, to take things easy and look at the world around me.  With Susan’s help and Sid’s I am realising that I did miss a lot, but then I did do a lot as well.  I sit here with a large smile on my face brought in with looking back at the first year of retirement and thinking in 3 weeks we are off again to Europe – this time a cruise on the Danube.  Yes life is good when you are a recycled teenager – just avoid the coach tours.

Thanks for reading this – until next time…..



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