The Retirement Thread

[Tenkaykev]

I've just posted this in the Wildlife forum but thought that I'd ask the retirees Hive Mind if they can identify this caterpillar like creature that is in the back garden.

 

[numbnuts]

I've just posted this in the Wildlife forum but thought that I'd ask the retirees Hive Mind if they can identify this caterpillar like creature that is in the back garden.
View attachment 604572

elephant hawkmoth

 

[Tenkaykev]

elephant hawkmoth

Many thanks! I was astonished as I'd not seen anything quite like it before. It looked alien!

 

[oldwheels]

@oldwheels
Seems to have gone missing.
Not posted anything since 21st June.
Hope all is OK.

Thank you for noticing I had gone AWOL.
I decided this retirement lark was not for me as I am still too active at age 86 and always seemed to mix with people younger than myself.
I realise that there are some who cannot cycle as they wish due to circumstances beyond their control and having been there myself I really sympathise with their predicament.
I still lurk around sometimes.
I attempted to give an idea of life on an island and a way of life under siege from outside forces with different interests. Some tourists are quite outraged that attempts are now being made to allow us some priority on our lifeline ferries.

 

[oldwheels]

Totally agree the NC500 has been disastrous for the Highlands. The company are promoting/selling a 'mind set' rather than a route and it seems to appeal to the worse kind of traveller,,uncaring.yobbish/selfish/destructive etc Many people who love the highlands arent coming anymore because its being ruined.

There are now reports of active hostility on the NC500 particularly to motorhome and campers. Missiles thrown at them and tyres slashed. Your post mirrors my own experience of recent tourism with the added complication of being unable to travel off island due tourist numbers booking boats months in advance.

 

[mikeIow]

There are now reports of active hostility on the NC500 particularly to motorhome and campers. Missiles thrown at them and tyres slashed. Your post mirrors my own experience of recent tourism with the added complication of being unable to travel off island due tourist numbers booking boats months in advance.

What: active discouragement of holidaymakers bringing income to the areas?
Seriously?
Seems....harsh 🙄

DD had a great week recently from her job in Glasgow with her pals - 2 cars, 7 of them, up to Inverness, out to Skye then back up round the NC500 coast. Early 20s, they will all have great memories of a summer week for years to come.

Pleased to hear only positive reports from them. I imagine most guest houses, hostels & eating establishments welcome the influx of visitors!

I can imagine a few 'bad apples' parking badly etc, causing some upset.....but please don't tar all visitors with that brush!

 

[ColinJ]

I bet that a lot of people load their cars/campervans up with supplies before they drive up there and hardly spend any money locally, especially if they are 'doing' the route in a hurry!

 

[mikeIow]

I bet that a lot of people load their cars/campervans up with supplies before they drive up there and hardly spend any money locally, especially if they are 'doing' the route in a hurry!

& equally, I bet a lot of people spend a lot of money on their trip...perhaps more than just drive around self-contained - not everyone is a boy racer trying to clear it in 3 days!
DD stayed away 7 nights in hostels/B&Bs, mostly ate out (with 1 or 2 BBQs) - precisely the point for a tourist economy, surely?
My LEJoG earlier in the year was done with pretty well all accommodation and food being sourced along the way (okay, I'm not doing the NC500, but did head north from the Crask Inn then along the coast)

Or maybe it should all be sheep and local moonshine

Other pals of ours did it last year when things were released a bit, & certainly bought local things and ate out as well.
No doubt there will be a few ignorant folk matching your description, but I suspect most people touring anywhere are also keen to sample local stuff....

 

[classic33]

I bet that a lot of people load their cars/campervans up with supplies before they drive up there and hardly spend any money locally, especially if they are 'doing' the route in a hurry!

On holiday I'll support the smaller shops, unless they've taken the mickey in the past. Often paying in UK£, not IR£ or euro's. I might lose out a few pence, but when the rate was the other way they took the notes at face value.

I'd one shop owner that complained he'd be charged for banking them, and I'd have to pay that loss. Used as a call of last resort, and only ever paid in IR£. He was "going to close the rest down". He didn't, and the new owners are better.

 

[Dave7]

Hi gang
'Orrible day.....gray, overcast and raining......which drastically changes plans. We we going to visit a large 'farm shop' type place but getting MrsD into the wheelchair and plodding around in the rain does not appeal .
May turn out to be a radio & book day.
I will report back.

 

[PaulSB]

Good morning all. Absolutely shite weather. Horrid! Another bad night's sleep but I've worked out why. I haven't been drinking enough.......water that is. I usually drink 3 litres a day and I know recently I haven't. When I wake up in the middle of the night I feel very dehydrated.

Childminding today so I must dash to collect the small one.

I'm heading to the Lakes tonight for a couple of days hill training. I may not check in.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Good morning folks, its very murky this morning.

 

[Tenkaykev]

Good morning folks, grey and overcast this morning but excitement awaits as it’s both bin day and veg box day and organised walk day and granddaughter minding day…
Just heard a flight heading out to Majorca from Hurn, not one of the the usual Ryanair flights, this was a “ Tui” flight.
Mrs Tenkaykev is hinting about us doing a “ Bristol Triangle” on our Brommies, Poole - Weymouth- Bristol - Poole, spending a couple of nights in Bristol. I’ll await further developments but it sounds like a good outing.
Have a peaceful day folks 👍

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Hello - nearly 8 so that means I have been awake for 4 hours for some unknown reason - I normally wake up at about 8 ish

thought I would see what life is around on here at this time - I normally only nice the thread mid morning after breakfast and stuff

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Good morning all, bright and breezy here. A walk with MrsF is planned and perhaps even incorporating a bus ride. That would be my sixth since BC and MrsF’s second.