The Retirement Thread

[Dave7]

I can recall, my primary school was only shortish walk down the next street, but both my parents worked, so when I left school, I walked to the local post office on the main road where my Mum worked, collected the door key and went home, alone in the house until she came home later on. Can you imagine a 7 or 8 year old being allowed to do that nowadays, social services would be on the case straight away.

Similar for me. From an early age I had a key to let myself in.
I can still taste the pickled onion butties I used to make for myself.
When I moved to the sec mod school we used to get there by walking along the railway line and run when the bobby shouted us.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Done the cleaning. Nipped down to the Post Office to buy a Mothers Day card to discover they are shut all week. Got home and remembered that my sister always sends us cards via Moonpig. Looked them up, selected a card, customised it with a photo and a message, and for the princely sum of £4.54 it’s now on its way IMO a very reasonable price considering it would cost about £3.50 to buy a stock card from a supermarket and to add a stamp to it.

 

[ColinJ]

I nipped out and tested the bike. It seemed a lot better but not totally silent, and this has happened before - the ticking usually returns over a couple of rides. I have a new chain to put on, so I'll see if that makes any difference.

I called in at Lidl and for the first time since the store was built several years ago, I saw a driver pull up at one of the recharging points and plug his car in. I can't think of any other public recharging points in Todmorden. I am surprised that the Aldi store was built without including any. I would have thought that it would be a condition for giving building consent these days***!

Plenty of Metros left today because I got to the station hours earlier than usual.

On the way back I spotted Ratty again on the path I take between the bus station and the river Calder. Same place as I saw this rat...

I was walking with a friend along a footpath above the river at the back of Todmorden bus station. Just then a large rat ran across from a gap in the wall to a bush opposite.

ColinJ: "Ah, a fine example of Rattus Norvegicus!"

Pal: "Say what?"

ColinJ: "Our furry friend just then - Rattus Norvegicus."

Pal: "What ARE you going on about!"

ColinJ: "Rattus Norvegicus a.k.a. the brown rat, common rat, street rat, sewer rat, or Norwegian rat."

Pal: "Where DO you learn this stuff..."

ColinJ: "The Stranglers!" (The album Rattus Norvegicus.)

As I got closer this time, Ratty turned round in the hole in the wall and poked his head out to see what was coming and making that whirring noise. His whiskers twitched and he disappeared pretty quickly when he saw me staring back at him!


*** I just checked - new building regulations to be enforced from this summer will enforce that condition.

 

[Paulus]

Bimble done in the lovely sunny weather. But, the front derailuer return spring has snapped meaning I was stuck in the big ring with several big hills to climb to get home.
It's old, 20 plus years, and looking on line this model, Shimano fd-4403 is long since superseded, and not even the bay of E has one.
A trip to the LBS is needed to see what the compatible parts are, and if he can get them.

 

[pawl]

I can recall, my primary school was only shortish walk down the next street, but both my parents worked, so when I left school, I walked to the local post office on the main road where my Mum worked, collected the door key and went home, alone in the house until she came home later on. Can you imagine a 7 or 8 year old being allowed to do that nowadays, social services would be on the case straight away.

Mine was pretty much the same Mum walked me to school Collected me mid day Walked me back and collected me mid afternoon Moved to juniors which was in the building.

Secondary school was only ten minutes walk until a new school was built on the outskirts of Loughborough From where I lived it was just a tad under on mile which should have excluded me from cycling there .Being a bit of a rebel I took no notice of the one mile rule For the last two years I cycled to school Any one who knows old Loughborough will know Thorpe Acre and tThorpe Hill which had to cycled up twice a day.

Happy days

 

[Dirk]

So I don't think that the prevalence of pedro's is any worse than then. It just gets a lot more coverage .

I've only ever known one Pedro ....... and he was a bit dodgy.

 

[rustybolts]

When I started secondary school I got a new bike, paid for by my Dad, and started cycling to and from school, five miles each way.

When I started secondary school I got my dream bike . I worked all summer and easter as a helper on a lorry and saved it all. I was dreaming about this bike for months . It was a Raleigh Blue Streak racer with 5 Benelux gears ( crap ) . I sat in the boot of my Dads Austin A60 Cambridge holding onto this bike as he drove home about 14 miles away. I could not sleep and spent most of the night gazing at the bike parked in the hall. If I won an Aston Martin or a Ferrari now it would not give me as much pleasure . At school I gave mates a ride on it. There was a big queue and I was bribed "a cigarette for a spin" on the bike from about half the school !

 

[welsh dragon]

My older brothers walked me to school, then when we came to the UK, primary school was too far and my mum wouldn't allow me to walk on my own and my younger brother was going to school as well so mum walked us both.

I got the bus on my own when I went to comprehensive school.

Some weirdo in a car stopped me one day as I was on my way and offered me a lift which I kindly declined. If my older brothers had found him, it would not have ended well for him.

 

[numbnuts]

At the age of 11 I was given my first road bike, it was second third forth hand and had drop handle bars a hard saddle and no gears.
I had to wait until I was 39 to buy my first brand new MTB.

 

[numbnuts]

I've only ever known one Pedro ....... and he was a bit dodgy.

I have one living on the same floor as me, did 8 years inside, when i first met him he said his name was George
three days later it was Rodger
Sometime later he asked me to help him fill out a form for a renewal driving licence.....old licence George
I said nothing, I have nothing to do with him now.
In the next block we had a nice chap called Jim, we were sat out in the garden talking about our past, i said "what's your story Jim", nothing to say mate, a few months later he fell out of the window......it was all over the local papers yes another pedro, still he did the right thing in the end.
I complained to the housing association, but was told that they are forced by the council to take so many per year, letter to MP.....no reply

 

[Dave7]

My older brothers walked me to school, then when we came to the UK, primary school was too far and my mum wouldn't allow me to walk on my own and my younger brother was going to school as well so mum walked us both.

I got the bus on my own when I went to comprehensive school.

Some weirdo in a car stopped me one day as I was on my way and offered me a lift which I kindly declined. If my older brothers had found him, it would not have ended well for him.

Reading that sparked a thought in my brain....... a question for you really.
Quite personal so I hope you don't mind me asking...........
At what age did you start wearing bloomers ?????
I assume that, at school you wore the mandatory bottle green or navy blue knickers........so when did the bloomers come in ??

 

[Mo1959]

Sitting on a bench half way round my walk. I was able to take the jacket off climbing up as it’s so nice. Just heard a green Woodpecker calling. I’ll sit for a while it’s so nice.

 

[welsh dragon]

Reading that sparked a thought in my brain....... a question for you really.
Quite personal so I hope you don't mind me asking...........
At what age did you start wearing bloomers ?????
I assume that, at school you wore the mandatory bottle green or navy blue knickers........so when did the bloomers come in ??

My goodness. The old navy blue drawers.

After i left school. They were all the rage you know

 

[12boy]

When 8 and 9 my 15 year old sister and I would take a train from Bombay (Mumbai now) to Madras and then busses to our boarding school in the Southern Ghats, sans parents. About 900 miles. We moved to the USA when I was 10 and until I began driving I walked to school. Never had any problems, either.
The weather is excellent for bike riding but I am not allowed due to my heart procedure. I had kind of planned to blow off a garden for the first time in 30 years due to the time I spend caregiving for Mrs 12, but the medical restrictions with the procedure makes it moot since rototilling and spading are also verboten until the end of April. TBH, the garden produces far too much for us to eat and that is another reason. Last years garden in May and July
Be well and safe.

 

[classic33]

Bimble done in the lovely sunny weather. But, the front derailuer return spring has snapped meaning I was stuck in the big ring with several big hills to climb to get home.
It's old, 20 plus years, and looking on line this model, Shimano fd-4403 is long since superseded, and not even the bay of E has one.
A trip to the LBS is needed to see what the compatible parts are, and if he can get them. View attachment 636430

This the same?
https://www.cycleking.co.uk/drive-c...iagra-fd-4403-9-speed-front-derailleur__14859