Graduated Retirement

Yes folks, she's back!

I have evolved once again from a Rambling Biddy to a Retired Battleaxe.  

I decided in 2016 that the Health Service had suffered enough - and so had I - so the impulse to retire and become a lady of leisure was grasped firmly with both hands and shaken, until I emerged a happier and better person (the jury's still out but watch this space).

How do I fill my time I hear you ask? (damned voices... )
Well it was dead easy.  For one thing it gave me the time I wanted to complete a Bachelor of Arts Degree with the Open University.  I have now graduated and have the posed photo, complete with posh certificate, batman cape and mortar board to prove it.

I started the degree course in 2011 as a means of sanctuary against the anxieties and demands of everyday life.  It's mostly worked out a treat, though their have been a few tears, tantrums and downright strops along the way.

Most of the modules I've completed have been great fun.  However, the 5th module (Counselling: Exploring Grief and Sadness) was a bit of a strain as I started it a couple of weeks after my Mum died.  I am not ashamed to say I sobbed my way through this module, but in many ways it helped.  Ironically I also got the best grade for this module, which just proves you can't beat practical experience.

I came hurtling back to earth with the 6th module (Why Is Religion Controversial?)  My answer to this was that it isn't!  This could be why I suffered the ignominy of failing - for the first and only time - one of the essays.  I felt I would never hold my head up in Tesco again.  

Nil desperandum I cried (yes, I still talk to myself only now it's in the foreign!) as I launched myself into my final module (Advanced Creative Writing)  This was a hoot.  I'd thoroughly enjoyed the basic Creative Writing module and lost myself in a few bits of dodgy poetry and a story involving two elderly sisters and a parrot.  The advanced module was just as much fun, but with less dodgy poetry and a few more twiddly bits.  I learned how to write scripts for film, TV and plays, and had a lovely time writing a script for a 30 minute comedy involving the Women's' Institute taking on a mob of anarchists in Trafalgar Square - the W.I won by a knockout!

Having now completed my studies The Present Husband (he who would like to be obeyed - dream on chuckles!) was concerned that my boredom threshold - which is similar to that of a 5 year old - would once again challenge the domestic bliss (not sure where this is.. I'll look it up).  
'Fear not, delight of my life', I reassured him, 'I can take sanctuary in the online," Futurelearn", modules'.  These are terrific as they last between 3 - 6 weeks each, they are free and only require around 3 hours attention a week.  Thus there is plenty of time to go to the pictures, take theatre trips, go off on jollies hither and yon, and go and drink coffee in the supermarket car park every morning while we howl with laughter at the appalling attempts at parking.

Life at the moment is good, which is just as well as I'm approaching the ripe old age of 60 at warp factor 9.

Who knows, I may even take to writing this drivel a little more often.

You have been warned...

Tootle pip!