Thank you GNs

Yes, although I retired 10 years ago we moved shortly afterwards to be near my son and DiL who were expecting their first baby. Then my daughter and SiL came back from New Zealand with their toddler, so it was straight into childminding as they produced five lovely GC between them.

The last one started school last September so I'm a bit like you Mildred inasmuch as my retirement proper started last September.

I love my sudoku and crosswords and of course reading, reading and more reading. Been feeling a touch guilty when sitting doing these but won't now.

But I do need to get out and meet new people so trying out a Pétanque Club tomorrow.

Ruby lady. You have summed it up labels don't matter. They just give people the opportunity to stereotype. We are all different.

Have a wonderful birthday Rubylady. Onward and upward! ????

Thank you Badenkate, pensionpat and florentina.

Badenkate You are entitled to feel strange with retiring, it is a very difficult time of your life and a lot of changes occur. And you do have to give yourself permission to enjoy your time now, you have earned it in spades, just do things which give you pleasure. I'm ok, I moan on at times because it gets too much but generally I am riding the waves of getting old, decrepit and bits falling off!

pensionpat I do think that society is very keen to label people these days, whatever the situation and aren't we all just humans trying to get by in the best way we can? I took offence at the post about Marmark1 needing a sick bucket because I said I would visit a naturist place. How rude when the person (?male or female) doesn't even know me.

florentina Thank you. I know, but I have to have my cervical biopsy re-done tomorrow as they didn't get enough cells last time so another wait now to see if everything is ok. Maybe that is why I am not too bothered this year about my birthday, there have been far more important things to focus on.