Accrington Web

Accrington Web (https://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/index.php)
-   General Chat (https://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f69/)
-   -   Topsy Turvey (https://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f69/topsy-turvey-27123.html)

katex 27-12-2006 15:35

Topsy Turvey
 
Well, now I am completely the wrong way around!!

Found myself not going to bed 'til very late and not getting up 'til late .. wasting half the day !! Know you can't when you have young kids, but this is getting ridiculous .. find myself almost getting up in the dark. Would I be like this when I can eventually afford to retire ? How do you force yourselves out of bed when no work to go too ... retirement seems a little daunting to me. :(

Think I might need a course before I do. Would be interesting to hear from some of our retired members.

maxwell silver 27-12-2006 20:13

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
A way from retirement yet Katex,but due to the shift patterns i work plus no longer bieng as young as i was,every holiday & weekends i find myself getting up at 4,sometimes 3 in the morning.Having the odd catnap here & there.Sometimes in bed by 9,sometimes later.The fact is i just can't lie in,as soon as my eyes are open then i'm up out of bed,and many a time its spoilt the day:(

jambutty 27-12-2006 22:25

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
When you retire katex you retire from the daily grind of earning a living and all that brings. Whilst working you was a slave to the clock. Time ruled your life but the day you retire you can throw off the shackles of time and become free. Free to pursue whatever you like subject to your financial status. You will still have to pay some heed to time – I mean there’s not much point in going to get your pension from the Post Office at three in the morning unless you intend to do it without their knowledge. But how would you do a runner on creaky bones? So there will be a few times when you will have to keep to other people’s time schedules. But in the main time will be your friend, your playmate and not your master. You will control time and not the other way around.

However, do not retire into doing nothing. You need to keep the grey matter active and watching TV won’t do that. Nor will going round the house dusting everything every few minutes. The old bones might creek a bit when you bend down or sit in a chair but what the heck you’re not a spring chicken anymore. Accept it and learn to live with the fact that you won’t be as agile as you used to be.

When I was forced to retire a dozen or more years ago I was fortunate in that the home computer in the form of the Spectrum and Amiga were all the rage. So I got an Amiga and also went to College to learn about computers. Whilst there I signed up for a Creative Writing course at “O” level standard and went on to gain an “A” level. Fired with enthusiasm I took “A” level Desk Top Publishing, brushed up on modern electronics (ex Navy Radio Electrician), did Maths “O” and “A” for the sheer hell of it and started a series of City and Guilds modules in computing and programming. Sadly a second heart attack put paid to my ‘school’ days but I had learned enough about computers to get my Amiga onto the Internet until it too showed it’s age and just couldn’t keep up with the new flashy Windows ME PC’s. So I got a PC.

I moderate the Golden Talk forum, come on here to have my say when I feel like I have something to say and do the same on the Jeremy Vine message board. I earn a bit more than a few bob on the Internet. Currently I have been converting all my records (78’s, 45’s, EP’s & LP’s) and tapes to digital format and that should keep me occupied for at least the next 12 months. In fact it could take longer because each track has to be cleaned up from all the hisses, crackles and clicks. My Audio Cleaning software will only do so much so I have to get in and get my hands dirty and do things manually so maybe it will take more than a year. But who cares, time means nothing to me.

Come late spring when the light gets better and brighter I intend to start a video diary to complement my digital photo album on a CD plus another pictorial CD of my dad’s army life during the First World War.

What I’m trying to explain is that your computer is a wonderful device and you can do so much with it. Write short stories or even a novel, or poetry if that’s your thing. I did. I wrote three books, two as a story for children and one as a record of some of the lesser known card and indoor games that I played. I didn’t do it to try and get them published but just to do it. One story helped to get me the Creative Writing “A” level and another helped to get me the Desk Top Publishing “A” level. Using my newly gained DTP skills I printed and bound all three books into real soft-back books. I knew nothing of book binding so I adapted the hard-back method for my own use.

So today I like my retirement.
I can do what I like when I like.
I get up when I have finished sleeping, no matter what the time.
I eat when I’m hungry.
I doze when I feel the need.
I go to bed when I’m tired.
I watch TV when there is something worth watching, which isn’t very often even though I have a couple of dozen channels to choose from. The computer and the Internet is much more interesting.

I hope that has given you some ideas on what is open to you should you want to take the plunge.
Can you read this secret message?
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

cashman 27-12-2006 22:52

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Katex,i aint been able to work for 6 years now, and what jambutty says is spot on, i had worked 6/7 days a week for more years than i care to remember approx 70hrs a week or more.and i thought crap thats me knackered,how will i cope, well i did and i love my life now,its a matter of adjustment,keep active with the old brain cells is paramount.in whatever you decide, i believe its the people that vegetate go under,the main thing in my opinion is you will not be a slave to the clock,as we all have to be when employed,time will be controled by you and its a damn good feeling once you adjust, to be honest with the things i have in my life now- i dont know how i found time to work.be positive and you will crack it,you don,t need a coarse just common sense.and you aint a dummy. good luck.

WillowTheWhisp 27-12-2006 22:57

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
I don't think I'll ever have trouble forcing myself out of bed because for some reason I find it impossible to sleep for more than 8 hours. I seem to have an internal body clock that goes off if I oversleep(forget to set the alarm or something), which is a good thing. I wonder if I'll always have that?

If I go to bed late and have to get up early I do find a cat nap early evening works wonders. Maybe there's something to be said for the idea of a mid day siesta.

Even though I keep specific hours to fit in with things like the girls going to school I do find myself doing jobs at what othr people may consider strange times - right now I'm ironing for instance.

garinda 27-12-2006 23:04

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
My advice, as the youngest retiree on here.

Get to like Jeremy Kyle and Trisha, get plenty of Prozac or a drink habbit, and you'll be fine.:D

shillelagh 27-12-2006 23:08

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Well i would prefer to work full time.

When i was medically 'retired' at 27 and that was in 1994, i was bored mainly because i couldnt do anything because it was both my wrists that was k'nackered in. I was going to hospital appointments every week and being sent to bury, rossendale and burnley general hospitals. Eventually i learnt to write with the straps on and became a volunteer at my local school and with the credit union. I'm still involved with both of them now. Then my mum took ill and i became her carer. I learnt to drive eventually passing my test. I looked after my niece and my nephews after school and sometimes took them to school. But in fact it was the voluntary work that kept me going - i was meeting new faces and doing something that was doing some good. Me if i see morning i must be going work - its not often i see mornings! I just get up when i want and go to bed when i want. But i would still prefer to work.

garinda 27-12-2006 23:35

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
I too loved my job.

I used to hate my days off, cleaning, shopping and the like.

Enjoy it Kate.

junetta 27-12-2006 23:57

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
I took early retirement at fifty and I really think it was the worst thing I ever did. The dream of living in sunnier climes taking each day as if it was a holiday really appealed but after the first flush wore off, boredom set in.
Five years on and I wake up when I feel like it and sleep when I feel like it but the bit inbetween is dead boring.

On reflection, I dealt a little early but not to worry, something might turn up!

garinda 28-12-2006 00:01

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
We may see work as a life time of being on a treadmill, but lots of us like and need structure.

I know lots of people that spent their lives looking forward to retirement, only to drop down dead when it arrives.

Seize the day.

Ianto.W. 28-12-2006 00:51

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Quote:

katex How do you force yourselves out of bed when no work to go too ... retirement seems a little daunting to me.
I find the call's of nature work very well for me katex, then the next thing is a brew, well I mighnt just as well 'boot' the pc up and have a quick nosey on accyweb, bingo dinner time. :D

katex 28-12-2006 11:10

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 357171)
I too loved my job.

I used to hate my days off, cleaning, shopping and the like.

That's me Garinda, sometimes happy to go back to work, unless I go on hols. of course, and you can't be doing that all the time when you retire, can you ?.

Well, thanks for your comments everyone, seems though even you have more flexibility with your time, you still have to treat retirement as some sort of occupation and discipline yourself to focus on activities, and yes, Jambutty and Ianto the computer is great and allows people to be in touch with the outside, rather than too lonely a life.

Although, probably 2/3 years away, think I will have to have a plan of action of things I have always wanted to do and never the opportunity (health allowing, of course).

Just being upside down these hols., worried me that this is what I would be like .. can be really lazy at times. :(

SPUGGIE J 28-12-2006 11:23

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
I have the same problem as Maxwel Silver as in my shift patterns play havoc. I find that even a short time of work has me climbing the walls. :o
As for retiring I will wait and see what happens. :D

cashman 28-12-2006 11:51

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Well, thanks for your comments everyone, seems though even you have more flexibility with your time, you still have to treat retirement as some sort of occupation and discipline yourself to focus on activities, and yes, Jambutty and Ianto the computer is great and allows people to be in touch with the outside, rather than too lonely a life ------------- now yer talking,thats the thing to do, focus on whatever floats yer boat,you have too its that simple,theres loads of stuff clubs/societys/voluntry work/ etc etc,the computer, think not knowing the circs,but junetta seems to have had the wrong reasons i.e.( treat everyday as a holiday) thats the way you will come unstuck in my view. you need to sort yer head out katex, retirement is inevitable at some stage you gotta be ready for it i think.

mrskitty 28-12-2006 12:06

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by katex (Post 357017)
Know you can't when you have young kids, but this is getting ridiculous.

Well jack goes to bed between 6-7pm,occasionally wakes up in the night(usually when im just falling asleep),gets up between 9-11am and always has a two hour sleep during the day-i think his decided to take VERY early retirement.When he was about 1 i took him to our GP because i was so worried about the fact he sleeps so much,just to be told 'enjoy the peace'.

jambutty 28-12-2006 12:22

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Voluntary work is all very well shillelagh but all you are doing is replacing paid work with non-paid work. Or in other words you are continuing your working life cycle. Break out of the cycle and retire disgracefully. You’ve worked – one way or another – for more than fifty years so devote the declining years to yourself. You’ve earned it.

OK! Some people like garinda like and need ‘structure’ in their lives but I question – do they? Or are they afraid of doing something NEW?

I have order and structure in my life although it may not seem like it at first glance but it is a different structure to working for a living. But I have the added advantage of saying – nah! I’m not going to do that today, I’ll do something else.

Most men and women will have, at some time, read stories to their children and maybe even grandchildren. If you haven’t got one get a camcorder (they are not all that expensive), sit down in front of it with a book and read it out to future generations. Turn it into a DVD. Most camcorders come with software to enable you to edit your ‘film’ and burn it onto a DVD. Jackanory, the best story telling programme on TV. Can you do better or at least as good? Try, you might just surprise yourself. You might not but heck you tried.

Can’t run to a camcorder then just do a voice read and turn it into a CD. Of course you will need a mike and some sound sampling software like Sound Forge and you will need to learn simple basic HTML to mix pictures with your sound on a CD, but you have the time to learn. It isn’t that difficult.

Just imagine - your great, great, great grandchildren listening to or watching great, great, great grandma reading them a story. Leave something tangible behind.

I’ve always liked the Albert Ramsbottom (and others like Sam Small, the Battle of Hastings) monologues written by Marriott Edgar and performed on stage and on record by Stanley Holloway and the author. I’m going to outdo them both and make CD’s or DVD’s of my contribution to the arts.

With my plans I’m going to need 20 years. But I won’t be bored.

Has no one found my secret message at the end of post #3?

garinda 28-12-2006 12:44

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Besides learning circus skills there's nothing else 'new' to learn, I've done it all.:D

I do miss the structure, but I had a great job that I loved, one that took me all over the world and allowed me to meet some great people.

That said, I do try to make the most of my enforced retirement. Partly because of the degenerative type of illness I have. In five years time I may not be able to do the things I enjoy doing now. Walking by myself on the hills and moors is already a no no.

That said it does have it's advantages. I had the pleasure of going to see my nephew and neice's Christmas concerts at QEGS and Westholme the past couple of years, something I could never do when I was working. I also moved back to Oswaldtwistle, something I never thought I'd do in a million years, and as I've said before it was one of the best things I've ever done.

Working or retired, time is precious, use it wisely.

shillelagh 28-12-2006 14:04

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
jambuttyVoluntary work is all very well shillelagh but all you are doing is replacing paid work with non-paid work. Or in other words you are continuing your working life cycle. Break out of the cycle and retire disgracefully. You’ve worked – one way or another – for more than fifty years so devote the declining years to yourself. You’ve earned it.


I'm not even 40 yet not 50!!! and thats age wise and not worked 50 years. I worked from the age of 17 because i stayed on in school for another year in the 6th form. I only worked 10 years!!! Please do not add on extra years they'll be added on soon enough.

The voluntary work i do now is the credit union - and that is one morning every 3 weeks. Thats not work thats doing something. That actually got me a part time job because i was dealing with customers and used to handling money.

katex 28-12-2006 15:12

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty (Post 357257)
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3
Has no one found my secret message at the end of post #3?

No, and it's driving me crazy !!.. tried anagrams, looking at words at the beginning of sentences, hopping over letters in 2's, 3's .. you name it. Trying to see if there is anything clever technically that can be hidden .. made a right mess of me format then, looked in your website :cool: This worse than K.S.H's hidden objects.:eek:
At least has kept me occupied !!

Hey, love the children's story idea Jambutty, I love reading children's stories, putting on funny little voices, etc., and must admit am quite good at it .. think when I read to my kids everynight, did it for meself as well as them... :D

Quality 28-12-2006 15:24

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Hi Jambutty,

Found it.

Happy New Year Everyone.

Quality.

katex 28-12-2006 15:29

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Quality (Post 357315)
Hi Jambutty,

Found it.

Happy New Year Everyone.

Quality.

Right, that's it !! Going back to have another go !!:mad:

SPUGGIE J 28-12-2006 15:52

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
While you lot are podering digesting and chewin the cud on work and retirement please give a thought to those that are at work. :(

katex 28-12-2006 15:56

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUGGIE J (Post 357324)
While you lot are podering digesting and chewin the cud on work and retirement please give a thought to those that are at work. :(

Ok ... thought about you Spuggie (well, somebody got to keep the country going, ain't they ... :D )... now back to finding that bloody message of Jambutty's.

Quality 28-12-2006 15:58

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Hi Katex,

A good tip would be to look for the highlights.

Quality.:eek:

katex 28-12-2006 16:20

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Quality (Post 357329)
Hi Katex,

A good tip would be to look for the highlights.

Quality.:eek:

Well, the sneeky so-and-so .. thanks Quality, owe you one. Jambutty would have extended the agony a little longer wouldn't he ? :p Good one though. :thumbsup:

Not sure how he did that ?

Quality 28-12-2006 16:47

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

Check above Katex,change the text colour to the same colour as the background.

Quality.


jambutty 28-12-2006 16:51

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Quote:

Hey, love the children's story idea Jambutty, I love reading children's stories, putting on funny little voices, etc., and must admit am quite good at it .. think when I read to my kids everynight, did it for meself as well as them...

Well there you are then katex. Make some CD’s for the future. I can let you have Sound Forge 4.5 for free and show you how to use it. All you will need is a microphone. One of those headset mic things will do – less than 20 quid from PC World or whoever.

Congratulations Quality.

OK! SPUGGIE J I’ve given those at work a thought. Now back to retirement.

Lateral thinking katex, lateral thinking. I would have revealed all tomorrow – honest.

How I done it? Simple. Take a screen grab of the Accy web site. Load the picture into Paint Shop Pro or similar and use the magic wand to grab the message background colour and read the RGB values which are 246 – 244 – 255.

Type the message in Word and change the text colour to those values and copy and paste it.

You used white Quality and you can see it.

katex 28-12-2006 17:11

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty (Post 357336)
Well there you are then katex. Make some CD’s for the future. I can let you have Sound Forge 4.5 for free and show you how to use it. All you will need is a microphone. One of those headset mic things will do – less than 20 quid from PC World or whoever.

Congratulations Quality.

OK! SPUGGIE J I’ve given those at work a thought. Now back to retirement.

Lateral thinking katex, lateral thinking. I would have revealed all tomorrow – honest.

How I done it? Simple. Take a screen grab of the Accy web site. Load the picture into Paint Shop Pro or similar and use the magic wand to grab the message background colour and read the RGB values which are 246 – 244 – 255.

Type the message in Word and change the text colour to those values and copy and paste it.

You used white Quality and you can see it.

Gonna take me a while to sort that out Jambutty... err, what's a screengrab ? .. half understand, but not fully. I just pulled up your quote ready for a reply and there it was ..:D

In the meantime, will have a go, however, can see not enough colours this way :-

Thanks for the fun on this x

Nah, didn't work .. will have to go into as above to mix the palette

jambutty 28-12-2006 19:37

Re: Topsy Turvey
 
A screen grab is where you grab whatever is on your screen and save it as a picture file. Many computers will have a key marked Print Screen usually between the main keys and the numbers keypad. If you press that key once then open a paint package and paste in it you will get what was on your screen.

The easiest way to reveal any ‘invisible’ text is to highlight the text. You know place your screen cursor at the end of the text, click and hold down Left Mouse Button and drag to the other end of the text. All the text will become highlighted and anything invisible will also be highlighted.

I don’t think that you can change the text colours into anything else except what is in the palette so you have to do the colour change in Word and copy and paste.


All times are GMT. The time now is 13:19.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.1
© 2003-2013 AccringtonWeb.com