As I said yesterday we have been on a two-day Pre-Retirement Course to learn about the difficulties and consider the options now that retirement is imminent (or in my case happened four months ago). So maybe the course was a little late but we still thought we would see what we could get out of it.


Wednesday Morning: Road by 7.00, not too early so it's OK. Christine's Clio, has suddenly become OUR car as we have 100 miles to drive and she is not yet fit to face the world. So off we go.
I turn on the radio and at 7.30 I suddenly realise why I can't get to grips to with morning TV and LK Today - Terry Wogan comes on the radio. For ten years or so I listened to Wogan each morning driving around the country and I hadn't realised the effect he had. The Togmeister talks rubbish, his listener are even worse but to hear mentions again of Mick Sturbs, Jacob Sladder and Penny Silin made me think 'am I missing work'.


We hit the first traffic jam at Junction 29 on the M1 then again at Junction 26 then 24 then 21A and I remember why I coundn't face this anymore. Nearly 3 hours later we arrive.


We check into the course. An hour later we have a coffee break and an hour later we have lunch. By now I have taken stock of the others on the course and they are all in their sixties, except the spiky haired blond one from Liverpool I wouldn't say anything about her as she goes to 'Combat Training Lessons', nor the Welsh rugby fanatic who is to see the job centre about retraining as an astronaut.

I don't know why I am surprised at the ages as it is a Pre Retirement course but of course Christine is still only '45', I am certainly not of retiring age but some of the others, well....


Mid afternoon and I mention to Christine that I have indigestion again. I used to have that a lot. 'Must be due to sitting around and car driving I suggest', and Christine agrees. I didn't mention at this point that I had three Danish pastries when we checked in, two blueberry muffins with the coffee and a large plate of buffet lunch followed by gateaux and cream. Brilliant, just like the old days. Why do I eat all these things? All I can say is its 'because they're there'.


We meet Richard and Maureen after the course for a couple of drinks, great to see them again and arrange to meet later in the year. Richard came into the hotel carrying his filofax but no Black Book. Standards are slipping I have never seen him without the book in the last 10 years.


And then to dinner, three courses, finish with cheese and biscuits and off to bed. I don't sleep too well, can't understand why, I feel a little bloated.


Next morning it's the full monty, fruit, flakes, eggs, bacon and sausage, toast and marmalade and tea. No mention at all of just tea and toast and definitely no wallpaper paste. And so on to coffee break, lunch and afternoon tea. Excellent.


So what did I get out of the course: 3 sachets of shampoo, 2 conditioners, 3 shower caps, 2 bars of soap, plus biscuits, tea bags, coffees, chocolate drinks to say nothing of another sewing kit. Was the course useful? Well yes, but that's for another day.