Today, my Dad retired.

[Mad Doug Biker]

Having grown up with him being away most the day, it's going to be strange!

Anyway, well done father!

 

[Night Train]

Well done!
Do keep him occupied though.


When my Dad retired it was in conjunction with a move from London to a granny flat in my house. He had nothing to do and got depressed. I decided to tell him I couldn't cope with the renovations on the house without his skills and knowledge and got him to 'help' me. It took a while but it brought him back and he is now more active then I am!

 

[accountantpete]

What was he - a Sun Cream salesman?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

He thinks he's too old to do anything and will no doubt spend his days watching Animal Cops on the telly.

Then again, he might get bored after a while......

 

[Nihal]

Yes MDB,what did he do................and no,youre definately not 53

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

What was he - a Sun Cream salesman?

He was a service engineer fixing photocopiers, firstly for Kodak, then Danka and finally Capital Solutions, so we always had free colour photocopies of things for projects at school!

Working as he did for Kodak, I, as a kid thought I could only use Kodak film in my camera and always felt like such a traitor when I even considered Fuji and the likes.

Turns he couldn't have cared less!

 

[goo_mason]

My Dad got early retirement AND redundancy at 55 in 1998. He's been far busier since than he ever was when he was working - he & Mum never stop. He's now become a 'local historian' and gives talks to groups & schools about local history, writes for the local rag, is on the local Heritage Townscape Trust, chairman of the twinning committee, on the committee of a local retirement home etc etc etc. From an analyst/programmer with a quiet life to all that. Amazing what you can do when you're retired!

 

[Nihal]

Working as he did for Kodak, I, as a kid thought I could only use Kodak film in my camera and always felt like such a traitor when I even considered Fuji and the likes.

The most foulest of crimes

 

[cyberknight]

Spend time with your dad , mine died after a lengthly ilness 5 years ago and you never know how much of a friend and guardian angel they have been till they are gone.

 

[postman]

I was lucky enough to retire six years ago at the young age of 56.It's been great for my girls.We are so close.On an even more positive note the wife retired hated it then found a part time job.Sorted,lovely jubbly.

 

[Fnaar]

My dad retired through ill health (cancer) in 1985 aged 58, when I was 23... I actually thought 58 was a 'good innings' back then, it seemed ancient to me at the time. He popped his clogs 2 months after retirement Now I'm 50, it doesn't seem such a good innings, so make the most of them folks, while they're still about

 

[Gromit]

My grandad would have been 111 on 18 April. He only drew one weeks pension back in 1963, never got to enjoy a retirement after his years of hard work. My gran on the other hand never did much work and lived till she was 78. She had never been to hospital or seen a doctor in her life until she broke her leg in her early 70's. This was back in 1980. People in the hospital didn't believe her when she told them. Tough as old boots she was, used to take her grand kids walks to the pub and sit there with a pint of beer watching the world go by.

Enjoy your parents while you can. I don't keep in contact with my dad as he beat my mum up. I only sorted things out with my mum when it was too late, she died in April.

 

[biggs682]

i can remember my dad taking early retirment at 63 just over 20 yrs ago , he still manages to cut 2 big lawns and hedges along with loads of other jobs and activities

 

[screenman]

My big brother retired at the age I am now which is 56, he is 23 years older than me and at 79 has just started cycling so that he can get fitter for his motorbike track days.

What sort of employer does a person need to be able and rich enough to retire at such an early age? the only people I know of that have managed it have been, nope not going there as it gets me into trouble.

 

[PBancroft]

My Dad got early retirement AND redundancy at 55 in 1998. He's been far busier since than he ever was when he was working - he & Mum never stop. He's now become a 'local historian' and gives talks to groups & schools about local history, writes for the local rag, is on the local Heritage Townscape Trust, chairman of the twinning committee, on the committee of a local retirement home etc etc etc. From an analyst/programmer with a quiet life to all that. Amazing what you can do when you're retired!

Got to agree. My dad did a very similar thing (around the same sort of time in fact). Since then, he and my mum have been lucky enough to do a huge amount of travelling, going to places they would have only dreamed of previously. Basically they had a second chance at life.

Life doesn't stop when work does... even though I have a sneaking suspicion it'll be more like 75 when I get to stop, not 55.