As you will be aware when I retired, I wanted to remain an 'I' having my own life and interests and not become a 'we' with Christine doing everything together. But it's not easy.


Yesterday was the six-monthly visit to the dentist. Now this is something I have managed to do by myself for as long as I can remember but because I have retired and we are at home together Christine changed the appointments to be at the same time. "Saves costs" says Christine as we only need make one car journey into Beverley. I understand that but...


We arrive at the reception desk "good to see you both together" says the receptionist. Why's that? What difference does it make to anyone? We both get our envelope wallet things with our records in and we both walk to the waiting room and we sit in identical chairs reading out-of-date magazines. Just a thought here: At the price private dentists charge wouldn't you have thought they could put out slightly newer magazines?


We have our teeth renovated and I sit in the waiting room for Christine then we both go back to reception to make the next appointment. "Is Monday 11th September OK?" says the receptionist. I suggest I have mine on the Friday so she changes both to the Friday. I explain that I am a 'grown up' and can come by myself so I will have mine on Friday and Christine can still have hers on the Monday. The receptionist looks at me as if I'm barmy and looks at Christine and asks her if we want both on the Friday. Christine nods and the appointments are fixed for the Friday. I may as well not be here. By the time we go next I bet we have matching anoraks.


But all is not lost with some division of labour is falling into place.
You will remember the problems we had with food shopping on our return from the Bahamas well our next venture was Marks & Spencer's Simply Food shop in Beverley. This time we only got as far as the first counter where Christine picks up a 'Chicken in something' ready meal. I simply mention that now we are retired and she has a lot of time on her hands maybe we should be cooking from scratch. Her comments were unprintable and she suggested I go across the road for a coffee and she would join me later. Over the coffee it is agreed that food shopping would be easier if I wasn't involved, a good results I thought and even better when for lunch that day I get my usual healthy tuna salad sandwich but also on the plate is a pork pie, a small two bite pork pie but never the less it's a start.


It is easy to see to how retired couples finish up as 'we's. We are joining a walking club and I notice we have the same shoes and the same colour walking trousers. Fortunately our anoraks don't match at the moment.