Newly Retired

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 1:17 pm

I'm now a "gentleman" of leasure Very Happy

I hung up my company truck keys on Friday last week (21st March).
A 2019 registered DAF 106, 530bhp, 44 tonne (96,000lbs) max gross semi tractor trailer rig, with over 610,000km on the clock.

On Monday 24th March my HGV (CDL) licence went out of date.

On Tuesday 25th I reached 66 years, and so am now officially an old bugger Laughing

Plans are, to put my feet up and do nothing, this week Smile

But that is quickly going to lose it's shine, so -

Doing the few things needed to put my old CB back on the road, and ride it some Very Happy

Motorcycle race marshalling at the 2 nearby circuits. Mostly Scottish club racing, but the British Super Bikes have a round at my local circuit.
I'm not a racing fan, infact I don't particularly like watching any sport, but marshalling isn't just watching Smile

Those 2 are the most important things, but there's more.
I intend to do the Edinburgh Kiltwalk again, later on this year. I've done it 3 times in the past.
It's a sponsored charity walk, organised by the Kiltwalk organisation. (They organise several events through the warmer weather season)
The Edinburgh Kiltwalk is 24 miles on a single loop around Edinburgh. Various shorter walks join in at suitable points around the loop, so we all arrive at Murrayfield Rugby Stadium at around the same time. As you can imagine, you need to be reasonable fit to do a 24 mile walk, so training for that will take up a fair bit of time.
I've also got a fairly large garden, which has been neglected for the last couple of years. I hate gardening, but hate slabs/chips/concrete/plastic grass even more, I like the green growing space. If you want a green growing garden, then gardening has to be done.
Then there are my grandkids and daughter, spending more time with them. Luckily they live an hours drive away. Not far, but far enough that visits need to be arranged. There's no point driving for an hour, only to find there's no-one home when you get there.
Those are the main big things I'll do to keep myself busy.
In 'adverse' weather, I also read a lot, play computer games, am fairly active in various forums etc. on this here interweb thingy and I'll restart playing my flute
I stopped playing the flute after I had that stroke a few years back. My right hand wouldn't behave. It's a bit stronger now, and fluting might help with dexterity.
I wasn't a good flute player before the stroke, not enough time to practice to get good. I'll see how things go now I should be able to make time.

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 2:07 pm

Congrats on retirement, Simon! It's the greatest thing - I've been having a blast for the past 2+ years. It sounds like you have plenty to keep you busy, which is important once you stop working full time. I wish you the best for a very long and healthy retirement!

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 2:11 pm

Good on ya, Simon!

Time to enjoy life!

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 2:28 pm

Enjoy! Retirement rocks!

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 10:08 pm

Congrats on the retirement Simon!! Sounds well deserved and earned! Hope you enjoy many years of doing the things you love and spending time with those you Love!

Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 10:35 pm

good stuff retirement is the best!, apart from the old age issues lol

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2025 10:38 am

Congrats! I am about 2 years away from retirement and can't wait. Enjoy your golden years!

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2025 1:45 pm

Everyday is a Saturday...

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2025 2:26 pm

sixdog wrote:

Everyday is a Saturday...

.....or Tuesday, or Thursday! Whichever is your favorite. Congratulations on making the plunge. Enjoy your time NOW before it slips away.

Steve

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2025 8:46 pm

Good for you Simon! You've earned it dude.

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2025 6:07 pm

Thanks guys. I plan to enjoy it.
As FC Mike says, "apart from the old age issues". At the moment, I'm fit enough not to have any real issues. There are some minor issues from having that stroke a few years ago, but they aren't anything serious either, annoying but not serious Very Happy

SteveG wrote:

sixdog wrote:

Everyday is a Saturday...

.....or Tuesday, or Thursday! Whichever is your favorite. Congratulations on making the plunge. Enjoy your time NOW before it slips away.

Steve

I'm with you there, Saturdays I think Very Happy

Taking the plunge was easy to be honest. Truck driving has changed enormously over the last 20 years. Not the driving part particularly, that's always been 'get the hammer down and get there ASAP'. But now, even on long haul International work, everything is "just in time", and the job means chasing the clock. We used to have time to stop and talk with friends, or stop to help a fellow countryman stuck at the side of a road, etc. Not any more. The Eastern Europeans being brought into the EU kept haulage rates (and therefore wages) lower. So a huge number of EU to UK jobs were lost to UK hauliers, and so there are very few UK trucks in Europe now. Truckstops all over Western Europe went out of business, because the Eastern European drivers couldn't afford to use them. They're starting to come back, slowly. But not the 'mom and pop' type of places they used to be, more like Pilot, Flying J etc style. They do the job, but there's no love of doing the job, it's just a method of making money for the top people. As part of that, and a carry over from Covid, many drivers go in, get a shower, get a taeaway meal and go back to their cab. We used to sit, eat, drink, pass information, just chat, tell stories and enjoy the relaxation after a long day. These soulless places are almost empty most of the time, none of the hustle and bustle of the old places.

I an glad to retire. I'd have done it after my stroke, if I'd had the finances to live unemployed from then till now.

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2025 1:02 am

Hey Simon! Congrats on taking on retirement! It's the best job I've ever had!!
Keep on Trucking...just without the big rig!!

Cheers from Canada!
Chris

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2025 3:40 pm

As my wife likes to remind me ‘I didn’t retire, I’m just under new management’ 😀

But really though, its been the best part of my life so far. Congrats.