Lynda's Blog

  As my family were staying over Christmas, I wondered if I should wash the bedding. They hadn’t been for over a year but had only stayed a couple of nights, so surely not. Then I thought about how dusty the duvet covers might be. So I asked my sister and a good friend, “Do you think I need to wash the sheets and duvet covers on the spare beds? It has been over a year.” They replied, “Na, it’ll be fine. Why make work for yourself.” So I didn’t! I did look up Google but the information they gave was very depressing. ‘Wash duvets and pillows every two to three months’ said some sites—apparently dust mites can trigger allergies. Oh dear. Then another site said at least twice a year, another said at least once a year. I don’t actually wash pillows, just hang them out to air! Mattress protectors? Every two months says Google. I don’t have the energy for any of that. So I did a little canvas of family and friends, most of whom said ‘I’ve never washed mine’ or ‘not for years’ or ‘ev...

  I was so excited when I retired. I loved my work but I just KNEW it was time to retire. I was going to retire well! I had a plan! Little did I know… I struggled for around 18 months with a lack of purpose and a feeling of invisibility. Who was I without a job? Others have since told me the same thing. So by all means have a plan—just don’t expect it to be exactly what you imagine. Supportive family and friends are important but no-one else will know exactly how you feel. Three and a half years later I happy with where I am and who I am. Even though I am an introvert I missed the social aspect of working. Now I meet with a group of friends every week for lunch at a nearby café. I also meet once a week with a good friend at another café. I have already mentioned I love coffee—flat whites actually. We have a great café culture where I live and we happily spend a couple of hours together enjoying the café experience. My ‘pocket money’ covers this. I have a weekly lunch date with ...

  I remember my elderly father saying, ‘I am busier in retirement than I ever was before.’   Well now that I am retired it certainly feels like that. At one stage I was working full time, being a wife, bringing up children, managing the household and still finding time to volunteer. Yep, I was busy. But I was also a lot younger. Now my days are full because I like it that way. My busyness includes all the household stuff, a lunch date weekly with my spouse, lunch once a week with ‘the girls’ and coffee once a week with a dear friend as well as regular visits to my elderly mother who is in a retirement home. I lead a bible study and continue with voluntary work. It also includes regular visits to our family who now live three hours away. However, now I also find time to relax and read a book. I love reading. Have I said that before? I know that when I first retired, I struggled with having purpose in my life. But I discovered that we all have a purpose, no matter what seaso...

  Christmas is one of my most favourite times of the year. I love all the decorations, taking time to choose gifts that are meaningful, the food, the excitement, the Christmas breakups (six for me this year) and the time with family. A little tip; put a small amount every week into a supermarket Christmas Club and if possible also put aside a little into a separate bank account for buying gifts so that even if you are on a low income you can still have a lovely Christmas with careful budgeting. But of course it is not all about the decorations and presents. I never forget the meaning of Christmas even during the busiest of Christmas Days. Christina Rossetti wrote a poem in 1885 that begins with the words ‘Love came down at Christmas’ and that’s the love I feel every day but especially at Christmas. But I digress. Now that my children and grandchildren live away and come home every second Christmas I have tended not to be quite so liberal with the decorating unless they are goi...