Retirement - minus 2 days: A view from my hotel

Love After Love

The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

Derek Walcott


I have chosen this poem as it focuses on ensuring you look at yourself and enjoy what you see. I was privileged to hear some wonderful words about myself last night at the leaving do part of my event. It was emotional and gratifying in equal measure and tears were shed. The lecture went well except for me getting cramp in both calves about half way through which meant I had to finish sitting down but it did not seem to interfere too much.

The dinner afterwards was wonderful food with thirty old colleagues and completed a wonderful and memorable night. The poem just seemed to fit my mood and so that is my quote.

Today I have been so so tired, but pleasantly so. I have had no energy to do anything today so this pic comes from the hotel window this morning and the extra is something which appeared on Twitter today capturing my lecture as I spoke!

Effectively I retired today as I cleared my desk, handed in my phone and was escorted from the building. No, the last bit wasntt true, it just felt a bit like that! Tomorrow is my last day In terms of my contract though obviously do not work Saturdays.

Tour de Yorkshire comes through my village tomorrow so hope to catch a few good blips. Have a great weekend folks. Must buy pipe and slippers tomorrow!