I missed the month of October. Not really, of course, in that I was here in the Land of The Living. Just not in Blogland. The first time, I think, I've miossed a whole month since June 2007. When I woke this morning and realised that that it was suddenly November I also realised just how fast my life is flying by now I'm in my eighties.
I'm no longer making promises to myself because I'm realising that I'm not keeping them and I always used to pride myself that if I made a promise then I kept it, come Hell or high water.
What made me realise how out of touch I was getting was an email conversation with a Blogland pal from the early blogging days. It made me realise, too, just how many of my Blogland pals are no more.
The irony is that in my 80s I am now fortunate enough to be busier than ever. Or am I? Perhaps the reality is that I am no busier than I ever was but everything takes so much longer and much more effort.
A friend has just bought a house in Sicily and is moving there. She offered me a ride there. Given that she owns a Bently that was very tempting. The reality is that I will never travel abroad again because, after my history of bouts of sepsis which have appeared so often and suddenly in the middle of the night, I have lost my confidence.
I am fortunate to have lived what, in my terms, has been a very interesting life here and in New Zealand. So despite what would be an absolutely wonderful opportunity to re-visit Italy, a country I love so much, I am staying put in my Island home. I might, of course, pop down to Glasgow occasionally! Fortunately I am reasonably fluent in Weegie. Probably because of my knowledge of Scouse.
While somewhat younger than you, I've realised I am past overseas travel, especially given the distances we have to travel to get out of Australia.
ReplyDeleteYes, for retired people everything expands to fill the time, and then you wonder why you have no time to do what you really feel you need to or want to do.
I first read that as Scilly, as in the isles, and thought how nice to travel in a Bentley to the Scilly Isles. Sicily is a bit of a stretch.
I have been to Australia a few times times and stayed on both the East and West coasts and travelled a fair distance (even if not as thoroughly as I would have liked). For that I am very grateful. Nowadays, though, I am largely content with staying much closer to home and living on my memories.
DeleteHello Graham,
ReplyDeleteThe months really do seem to fly by ....they say it is when one is enjoying oneself....but, perhaps, you are right in saying that a little seems a stretch a long way these days.
You touch upon a dream of ours and that is to be driven, everywhere, without our touching a steering wheel. We would settle for far less than a Bentley but we imagine ourselves in the back seat of a luxurious motor car with a chauffeur who can be summoned at will to take us wherever we please. We feel ourselves lucky to live on the Continent [as we refer to Europe] where one can drive to so many wonderful cities and even countries. Well, dream on...
Whatever, you live in such a beautiful part of Scotland. There is much to content one there.
I have to say that I still enjoy driving although the thought of driving down England's motorways again is a real turn-off. Last year I did a refresher driving course and an advanced driving test because I got so fed up with people saying that one should not be driving after 70/75/80 depending on the person's opinion.
DeleteI had almost emailed to ask if you were OK and I'm glad you are.
ReplyDeleteSicily sounds like a long drive, even in a Bentley.
Having a good life close to home makes a lot of sense
Thank you Kylie. It certainly makes sense to me although I'll very happily drive through the Scottish Highlands to Glasgow.
DeleteYou have to mend your ways and cease to inflict these long absences on us, Graham. Inevitably, despite our best intentions we start to think the worst! Travel does become more of a challenge as we age. I will be going to Colombia in less than a month and I wonder whether this will be my last adventure beyond the security and comfort of our universal medical care. I would dearly love to go to Cuba one more time. We’ll see….
ReplyDeleteDavid, it did occur to me recently that now I'm over 80 medical insurance for outwith the UK would be a difficulty.
DeleteWas beginning to wonder where you were. Glad to see you are OK.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tasker. I'm going to try and mend my ways.
DeleteI admit to being quite relieved to see this blog post from you, Graham. I was beginning to worry about you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, JayCee. I'll try to be more considerate.
DeleteHope your month of October was filled with happy moments, Graham. Glad to hear you are well. I understand your hesitation about travel and feel the same way. Luckily, you live in a beautiful area and you have places nearby to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteEllen, I'm exceptionally fortunate that my life has, on the whole, quite a lot of happy moments.
DeleteI agree, you are fortunate to be keeping going Graham and I'm happy to see another post from you, stay well.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Amy. I have popped in and out of your various blogs (apart from anything it keeps me in touch with your beautiful land) but I'm remiss in not commenting very often. I'll try to do better.
DeleteI relate as I am 80, the hours in the day move so quickly now. Things take longer, In my 20s I had many adventures, I chose a year in college in a muslim country, rather dangerous travel in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Beirut. Lots of good experiences but no more travel for me. By choice, I am cautious now.
ReplyDeleteTerra, I'm a much more cautious and less adventurous person. It was not until 2006 that I suddenly decided to go to New Zealand and since then I've had a wonderful and varied life.
DeleteMaybe with winter setting in there will be a few long hours of darkness to fill with blog posts.
ReplyDeleteTigger's Mum, I'm hoping that I can get back fully into Blogland
DeleteEverything seems to take so much time now, and I'm not 70 yet! As you say, I also have noticed the blogging friends who are no longer with us. I miss them. Sorry you don't feel as if you can go to Italy but you can console yourself with lovely memories of having visited before. Take care on your island!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kay. I think that the older I get the more I rely on memories and I sincerely hope that they stay with me.
DeleteI know well the experience of aging. We have just as much to do but it takes us much longer.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Red, ain't that the truth.
DeleteYes Graham I agree. In our eighties we have slowed down. We don't travel overseas any more. Long haul flights are a pain. Airport hassles are a pain. Like you, we live on our memories for travel. These days we are happy to wake up and find there is nothing wrong with us.
ReplyDeleteDiane, as I have started saying "If I wake up then it's a Good Day."
DeleteI feel lucky to live in a beautiful place and while there are many places I probably should go, I would prefer not to risk long haul travel to be honest…but I will do more in Nz .. I have to retire one day!
ReplyDeleteFiona, somehow I can't imagine you retiring.
DeleteDriving the 700 miles down to my home in S France is bad enough, driving all the way down to Sicily would be a nightmare; even in a Bentley. Staying at home is sounding better and better to me, and I'm note quite yet 80.
ReplyDeleteCro, for 10 years I lived half the year in New Zealand and half on Lewis. It seemed so easy then. I can't even begin to imagine doing that now.
DeleteIt's lovely to see a post from you, Graham. Bentley or not, it's still a long drive to Sicily.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules. I'm trying hard to devote time each day to Blogland now.
DeleteThrough my first marriage and many a summer spent on Sicily, I have a special relationship with that beautiful but oh so badly treated island. Whereabouts is your friend's house?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it is always good to see a post from you, Graham. This time, I was not worried about your absence, I merely assumed you were busy with your offline life.
Thanks, Meike. My friend's house is in Catania.
DeleteFriends of mine live in one of the outlying smaller towns near Catania. They can see the Etna from their balcony, and when it glows in the dark, it is quite worrying - to me. Everybody else seems to just shrug it off as something that has been there forever, and will certainly outlive them all anyway.
DeleteThanks for the follow-up information Meike.
DeleteI am glad to see a post from you. Like you, I feel like the days are trickling through my fingers like water.
ReplyDeleteThank you Debby. I'm doing my best to catch up in Blogland. I miss it.
DeleteYes Graham, you have indeed lived an interesting life - spending countless hours on croquet lawns - constantly bashing your balls through hoops. Please do not leave such big blogging gaps in future or I shall have to report you to the B.E.C. (Blogging Ethics Committee).
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry, YP. Indeed the biggest sadness of my absence is how much I have missed on the blogs I uusually read.
DeleteI know what you mean, Graham. Every day seems to slip by just that little bit more quickly. Mind you, I think I appreciate life a little more, too. No more long road trips for me, I'm afraid. I'm confident I'll be able to cope with a trip to Bali next year but don't see any more longish flights for me after that. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that your trip to Bali will go ahead. I have now come to terms with the fact that I am very unlikely to go abroad again.
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