Life is too fast....or is it me?

I've been called to do Jury duty twice, and both times I loved it!
It was time away from work (but on full pay) and I sat in on some interesting cases.
Just once, I recognised the defendant, but before I got the chance to notify anyone, he saw me and started jumping up and down shouting that he didn't want "that nasty old bat" on the jury. I didn't object to anything but the "old" comment, as I was in my mid thirties at the time! I had encountered the young man through my work, and had actually physically ejected him from our building once when he took a kick at a pregnant colleague, so he probably thought I'd have been against him from the start, and do you know what? I would!

I find that I don't like to have more than one 'commitment ' per day, be it social, health, family etc! Otherwise I feel pressured.

That way I can enjoy what I need to do and still have time for leisurely mornings, sewing, knitting, thinking, reading etc

Some people seem to have boundless energy for endless rounds of socialising, exercising and worthy retirement pursuits. But I think that we have earned our time to be a bit lazy if we want to be and we shouldn't feel guilty about doing what we want to. And, we are old enough now to say 'no' to things we don't want to do.

Jurists are not just professionals who have been to university, my father was called for jury duty when he was 65 and he was a plumber.
I have never been called but hope I could be excused on medical grounds now.

Totally agree with Jaxie I'm in a people job and can't wait for the occasional pyjamas day I make a point of keeping Sunday a day to do nothing just enjoy a bit of tv a long bath and to be honest dissuade any visitors my retired friends have been known to take offence at this but as I'm quick to point out they can have a lazy Sunday any day they choose.

Yes, twice. Excused first time (pregnant). Did it reluctantly but it was an eye opener and proved to me the system works. Would do it again if asked...

I was on a jury about 20 years ago. I was working as a cook at the time which wouldn't really have counted as a career. It was interesting but worrying to see how many people didn't understand thing like "Beyond reasonable doubt" or couldn't understand that disliking someone wasn't the same as proof.

It was my job that prohibited me even though I was quite lowly .

I don't think they pick professional people a lot of the time though.

I have never been called. I think they pick the ones with careers. Or good educational qualifications. I don't think 60 wpm typing and 40 wpm shorthand quite cut it.

I think it's 75 now!

annsixty - hope you feel better soon.
Are there any red patches? If so, antibiotics straight away (cellulitis)

No, I couldn't when I was working and have not been called since I retired.
Are people over 70 still exempt? (the people with all the knowledge and experience!)

Today has been very busy, now I just want to slob out relax as tomorrow could be full-on as well (and the rest of the weekend).

Haven't touched my knitting for ages, although I suppose I could be doing it now

I've never been called for jury duty ( nor has DH) has anyone else on here been asked to do this?

I am very nearly 70 and am doing jury duty. Travelling to the city centre in the rush hour is not much fun. I don't like the jury duty although I have met some very nice ladies and we help each other to pass the time while we are hanging round waiting to be called again.

Pain makes everything so hard to handle.

annsixty .

I hope your leg gets better soon. x

My theory is if you've had a "people" job, where you're giving out all the time plus looking after children & aging relatives there comes a time after retirement when you just can't stand anyone making demands on you. When visitors come to stay I get so worn out with the cleaning, bedmaking, cooking, being "Mrs nice hostess" that I slump on my sofa dressed in my slumdog clothes, hair unwashed for days on end, no make-up so hag- like appearance with my reading, iPad, knitting, TV; heaven help anyone expecting me to be nice on the phone, or expecting me to entertain them with afternoon tea. My sons rarely phone, however my daughter wants attention, and goes in for emotional blackmail if I dare not to Facetime several times a week. I love them all, but they're grown ups now.

No jing I have been struck down by a really painful leg. Dr thinks it is coming from my back, all I know is that is very very painful. It is coinciding with H's Alzheimer's taking a downward turn so I am just feeling rather sorry for myself. Age isn't helping though?.

I've been feeling very down a lot too, and I haven't even got a reason like you have annsixty. Is it an age thing? Or is it just the end of the winter? I hope it's the latter.

Like Synonymous I have come to sudden halt and am so miserable. We never think it will happen to us but it does. Those of you on a Merry go round just take a little time out to smell the coffee. If you do this enough, when you are charging round, you can think"I have earned a break and I know I can take one". Just get a balance in your life, I would love the chance.

It's funny,but you're full of very chocolatey chocolate sponge pudding and custard, you don't somehow feel like setting to and baking chocolate cake.

Glamma I'fe still got to make the flippin' thing. In fact, the only bit of my to-do list that's been done so far is lunch at the garden centre.

#lazyarsedsoandso

I know it's just me being odd, so sorry in advance, but what's the difference between doing something that you clearly need done (hairdressers appointment, new flooring, etc) and doing nothing ie sitting watching TV and spending time on the iPad? Is it that one lot are scheduled and the other lot are drifting? What's a free day? Isn't doing things you like still doing but with the emphasis on free choice?

I hear this a lot in the minimalist blog world - cut down your busyness and be free to do more of the things you long to do. There they mean going off hiking, setting up some community-based project, or writing a block buster for example. Still seems to be doing to my way of thinking. Not doing is sitting and watching the clouds go by or leaning on a fence watching the sheep in my book.

Katek I was like that once and then one day everything stopped. Now while my head is laying on my pillow my inner voice says 'this is what will get done today and if there is enough time x, y and z' - and then I try to get up and my body says 'who are you trying to kid?'.

I think we have our priorities so skewed in our culture. We take our health for granted and expect to live long, healthy lives and just take a pill or potion when illness comes instead of looking after the health we have.

People really need to factor in rest time so that the body can recuperate and it needs to be thought of in the same essential way as food. Perhaps a time use ratio might be a good idea as in 1/3 work, 1/3 rest and 1/3 play with a good night's sleep thrown in for good measure. There should not be any guilt in looking after ourselves and if we have the luxury of retirement we have no excuses for neglecting our health.
The more we rush about doing then the more we are withdrawing from our 'well being account' and if we are not careful enough we overdraw so much that we end up bankrupt healthwise.
I know as I have done it! & with myself!

Not sure about day to day but year to year is whizzing past. Been retired 10 years now and it feels like 2. Stop!!!!!!

My life is pretty hectic most of the time Luckygirl. I just tend to push on through things. And yes obieone, it's upbringing-no quarter given in our house, we just got on with things.

Today's the day I really must get off my a**e and start sorting out the mobile home.

When DD moved into our bungalow the weather was terrible so we just left it but hopefully we'll soon be able to use it for visitors.

DD has done a clean up but I have to sort out bedding, crockery etc.

I'd love a 'do nothing' day but that ain't gonna happen any time soon.