tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post1780533040883083631..comments2024-03-22T23:27:47.349+00:00Comments on EAGLETON NOTES: What Are You Doing These Days?Graham Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-18134845015719406102020-08-05T21:47:10.493+01:002020-08-05T21:47:10.493+01:00Michael, wise words from your Mum. I wish that I h...Michael, wise words from your Mum. I wish that I had said just that.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-29465643768496030622020-08-05T21:16:17.825+01:002020-08-05T21:16:17.825+01:00Apologies I’m a bit tardy with my comment, Graham....Apologies I’m a bit tardy with my comment, Graham. Your post was spot on & made me smile. I was forced into early retirement on ill health sure me years ago and more than one person asked (usually with amazement when they discovered I was bowing out early), But what will you do?! I used to reply that anyone with an inquiring mind and some degree of intellect would have no trouble filling their days. My mother, with the wisdom of her years, laughed when I told her and suggested I say ‘Nothing!’. Michael McNeillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11247145157454447816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-53340595021976948282020-07-12T12:18:48.939+01:002020-07-12T12:18:48.939+01:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05611615360878480024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-9726528685473470462020-01-20T23:13:26.889+00:002020-01-20T23:13:26.889+00:00Monica, I rather like the idea of being an 'in...Monica, I rather like the idea of being an 'influencer' although I rather think people might look at me even more strangely than when I say 'bureaucrat'.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-33327354601809868122020-01-19T10:29:44.496+00:002020-01-19T10:29:44.496+00:00Graham, half the time I don't even know what t...Graham, half the time I don't even know what the game is! The admiration goes both ways, though. You might consider adding "influencer" to your list of titles. That should work almost as well as bureaucrat! ;) DawnTreaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-46779334924466453802020-01-19T10:00:54.148+00:002020-01-19T10:00:54.148+00:00Yes, Diane, spam comments when one is asleep or of...Yes, Diane, spam comments when one is asleep or off-line is one of the irritations of not moderating comments. On the other hand not moderating comments allows a flow of 'conversation' in comments which I enjoy. <br /><br />Having said that I absolutely LOVE your joke. I shall definitely be using that. Thank you.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-86019374511835428782020-01-19T09:14:38.806+00:002020-01-19T09:14:38.806+00:00Lynn what you say resonates with me. I think, in m...Lynn what you say resonates with me. I think, in my case, I would say that 'living' was when I was touring New Zealand playing championship level croquet and all that went with that. Friends and family interaction are living too. A lot of today will be spent doing housework and cooking for friends coming for dinner tonight. Odd that it may seem (there is a pile of ironing included) I will actually enjoy the whole day.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-87932724919626924982020-01-19T08:44:46.358+00:002020-01-19T08:44:46.358+00:00Looks like you have a couple of spam comments.
As ...Looks like you have a couple of spam comments.<br />As long as you are happy piddling around is the main thing. We have a joke: ''What are you doing today? "<br />" Nothing!"<br />"But you did that yesterday."<br />"Yes but I haven't quite finished yet."diane bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002292118984909883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-2406942106384835082020-01-18T21:25:42.195+00:002020-01-18T21:25:42.195+00:00The world is divided into two kinds of people: tho...The world is divided into two kinds of people: those who are most concerned with living and those who are most concerned with doing. Sometimes living and doing can both happen at the same time, but not always. When I retire, there'll be still lots to do and the most important will be to enjoy my life.Lynn Marienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-34401310027525201992020-01-18T20:25:11.973+00:002020-01-18T20:25:11.973+00:00Jayne, this has reminded me that I have been appro...Jayne, this has reminded me that I have been approached a number of times to be a Be-friender but it involves regular commitment and my lifestyle, present commitments and time away from the Island makes that difficult. I do feel a bit guilty though.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-1376887370725133682020-01-18T20:21:12.588+00:002020-01-18T20:21:12.588+00:00Meike, I'm sure that you will always make the ...Meike, I'm sure that you will always make the most of what you have. After all you've been through (even since you started this blog and because of why you started the blog) you have always striven to be positive. May that positivity be well rewarded.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-76796102533217409912020-01-18T20:19:03.286+00:002020-01-18T20:19:03.286+00:00Amy (or do you prefer Aimz now?) I hope that you f...Amy (or do you prefer Aimz now?) I hope that you find out one day. Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-70117549951014960432020-01-18T20:14:40.268+00:002020-01-18T20:14:40.268+00:00Kay, I shall add that to my future repertoire of r...Kay, I shall add that to my future repertoire of responses. Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-23922019798658769952020-01-18T20:13:52.439+00:002020-01-18T20:13:52.439+00:00It probably does, Jules and, now that I think abou...It probably does, Jules and, now that I think about the person (whom I've been acquainted with for decades) I'm sure you are correct. Thank you for your gladness.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-6757021670198262452020-01-18T20:12:33.927+00:002020-01-18T20:12:33.927+00:00Maywyn, I think I might add your suggestion into s...Maywyn, I think I might add your suggestion into some of the others and come up with 'the perfect response' for next time.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-89425543830939821412020-01-18T20:11:29.077+00:002020-01-18T20:11:29.077+00:00Karla from Illinois, you have also hit the nail on...Karla from Illinois, you have also hit the nail on the head I think. I wish I had had the quick wit to give your response. I'll know better next time.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-80621182407065266832020-01-18T20:02:36.542+00:002020-01-18T20:02:36.542+00:00YP, like you, I resented being pigeonholed. When w...YP, like you, I resented being pigeonholed. When was gainfully employed I would often answer the question with "I'm a bureaucrat." That invariably shut people up. When I retired and had my own business if a banker asked me I said that I was a company director but if anyone else asked me I'd say that I was a potter. Either or both were technically correct but neither explained what I did. I have done the occasional post I think on the sweet art of doing nothing or <i>dolce far niente</i>.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-46334066773765648812020-01-18T19:58:11.366+00:002020-01-18T19:58:11.366+00:00You’re absolutely right Graham, Bag End would be a...You’re absolutely right Graham, Bag End would be a full-time job if I let it. I have no intention of doing that - far too many other hobbies.<br /><br />I agree with you about folk who are completely alone, it seems to be an epidemic in our current society.Bag End Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06190496929132717769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-52087160529654829132020-01-18T19:55:27.258+00:002020-01-18T19:55:27.258+00:00Monica, it seems to me that you have created a wor...Monica, it seems to me that you have created a world with which you are reasonably content. Whether by necessity or choice you seem to have made the best of the cards dealt to you. I have always admired you enormously for that. Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-30766936726865545152020-01-18T19:50:45.575+00:002020-01-18T19:50:45.575+00:00As you say, Lee, if one is happy (and I am fortuna...As you say, Lee, if one is happy (and I am fortunate so to be) then wotthehellarchiewotthehell.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-27599543969477016022020-01-18T19:49:18.761+00:002020-01-18T19:49:18.761+00:00Firstly, Rachel, I don't recall being asked it...Firstly, Rachel, I don't recall being asked it in 'that way' before either. It's usually something mush less 'formal'. In some ways it was the parameters that the questioner had set before she asked the question. When I retired from public service I still had my own business. When I sold that I went to New Zealand for 6 months a year for 10 years. I still haven't scratched the surface of the projects I want to finish. I've been very fortunate. As friends drop off this mortal coil and as travel gets more difficult (I can't travel abroad now because I can't get insurance and I'm not prepared to travel without it given my medical circumstances) I do sometimes have twinges about the future. Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-16117967672677138562020-01-18T19:41:42.965+00:002020-01-18T19:41:42.965+00:00Jayne, I suspect that looking after Bag End, is pr...Jayne, I suspect that looking after Bag End, is pretty much an occupation in itself. I think when we retire we become much more aware of the amount of time left and the amount of 'stuff' we want to do in it. I compromised sleep (I made do with a maximum of 5½ hours most of my working life) once upon a time. Now unless I have to be up for something in particular (it's 5.30 if I'm getting the morning ferry) I get up when I please: usually before 7 in the summer and after 7 in the winter. There will never be enough time. The sad thing is that there are many (usually older) folk who have nothing and no one to fill their time. I find that devastatingly sad.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-31227444508066925052020-01-18T19:35:07.038+00:002020-01-18T19:35:07.038+00:00Adrian, the difference is that you actually do ...Adrian, the difference is that you actually do 'useful stuff'.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-67031327299706564372020-01-18T19:34:26.616+00:002020-01-18T19:34:26.616+00:00Absolutely, Cro. All day whilst doing 'nothing...Absolutely, Cro. All day whilst doing 'nothing' I kept wondering whether I'd manage to get the next bit of 'nothing' done before it got dark/before dinner/before etc etc. Now I'm just wondering if I'll get to make that batch of soup before I sit down in front of the News at Ten. Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6784891745623390957.post-62804631295244816042020-01-18T19:30:02.144+00:002020-01-18T19:30:02.144+00:00Kylie, it didn't occur to me that she was tryi...Kylie, it didn't occur to me that she was trying to look important. Now that you've mentioned it though.......Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.com