Stu

[Fretless]

Hope it heals by up fast Stu. Knees benefit enormously from correct exercise when recovering - check in with with a good fysio or sport therapist.

[antonio66]

Well at least the worst is over, hope you're feeling better today.

[karatestu]

One thing that worries me about retirement is being bored. Right now I'm as bored as a bored person could be. It's a challenge thinking of things to occupy myself although being slightly incapacitated limits me a little.

Sure, I've got hobbies like drumming, gardening, wildlife, making stuff badly, a bit of basic mechanics. But is that really enough to keep me occupied and give me a sense of purpose? I get bored of things really easy, I can drum or garden for an hour but then I need to move on.

I don't hit state pension age for another 15 years so I've plenty of time to think about this. Maybe I'll just carry on working until it's impossible to carry on, or i drop dead.

[CN211276]

I have been retired for nearly eight years and love it, the time has flown.I reached state pension age a few months ago. The only time I got bored was during the lock downs when only music and a good hifi system kept me sane. Retirement has brought about a sense of freedom after being cooped up in an office for 35 years. During the long winter months I did not see a lot of daylight. It is nice to spend a lot of time n good weather iout doors, not to have to get up in the morning, not having a boss and not being anyone's boss. Not to mention a seniors bus pass and rail card. The list goes on and on.

[antonio66]

Stu, how much of the world have you seen? You don't seem the sort who would appreciate the more common destinations of Spain, Majorca ect but as you know I go to the far east and love Cambodia. Phnom Penh has changed out of all proportion since I first went there nearly 17yrs ago, the same for Thailand, I first went there in 1990, don't think I'll be returning there. I'd like to try Laos, gorgeous scenery and friendly people so I've been told. What about Japan, India, S America or even the good old US of A.
How much have you seen of the uk, some unbelievably beautiful areas, watch Tales from the River Bank on Ch.5 if you can still get it.
Retirement is the best job I've ever had, I guess I'm naturally lazy, not always but some of the time.

[slinger]

I thank you both for your advice.

I haven't seen much of the world, I haven't been out of Europe. Holidays never really interested me that much, it's only when kids came along that I made more of an effort. When I do go away I want to be as remote as possible with as little human interaction as possible.

I need a purpose in life otherwise the wheels will fall off.

[CN211276]

I came across this recording contract from 1999. I dropped everything for six months to become a rock star. That never happened of course. Six months driving to the recording studio which was directly opposite Yorkshire TV building in Leeds. I remember the smurfs albums were recorded there cos they had the discs up on the wall. We got turfed out for a while whilst a band called Embrace recorded their second album. My biggest memory is being perpetually stoned and the graffiti on one of the bridges over the A64 which read "captain dogfart" Went to the company's Christmas doo where Richard Whitley sat grumpily reading his yorkshire post in the corner whilst we chewed whispering Bob Harris' ear off about the state of the music business.

[Fretless]

Didn't Embrace come from Huddersfield?

Edit: just checked - their 2000-released album 'Drawn From Memory: (which I might even have a copy of somewhere) was partially recorded at Soundworks in Leeds.

And they came from Brighouse which I used to pass through everyday when I lived In Huddersfield and worked in Bradford. In a previous existence.

[slinger]

Brilliant memories, Stu, and I bet whispering Bob agreed with you.

[slinger]

Didn't Embrace come from Huddersfield?

Edit: just checked - their 2000-released album 'Drawn From Memory: (which I might even have a copy of somewhere) was partially recorded at Soundworks in Leeds.

And they came from Brighouse which I used to pass through everyday when I lived In Huddersfield and worked in Bradford. In a previous existence.

Yes, proper Yorkshire lads. I must confess that I didn't get excited by their music and liked it even less when we had to delay our recording for them.

Soundworks was the place. Right opposite Yorkshire TV in the basement of a shitty looking industrial building. No daylight, no fresh air (on a main road) , very little parking and the commute in could be interesting sometimes. The studio itself was nice enough but hardly artistically inspiring. They did work for YTV across the road. In contrast, we once recorded in an old farm not far from the spy base near Harrogate. That was a beautiful place and got the creative juices flowing.