Retirement and Big Birthday

WOW!!! What a few days.

March 13th was the day of our retirement party, courtesy of Nicholas King Homes.

I have been working for NKH for the last 5 years and Jacquie joined the team in May of 2007. There was a staff training day scheduled for the 13th and all our sales colleagues would be attending. Jacquie decided to go as well, to defer her retirement as long as possible, I unfortunately couldn't as I was in the local hospital having a pre operation assessment. I did arrive at the head office of NKH in time for a presentation of cards, gift and lovely words from Susan our Sales Director assuring us that we would always be welcome back.

Then to the Crown for champagne and dinner, to be assured by all our work chums that we would be missed and envied. We have so enjoyed our time at NKH and the warmth and friendship of the team that we will undoubtedly miss them all.

That was just the start. The next day was Jacquie's big 60. First stop was the post office for her Freedom Pass, which allowed Jac a free but crowded train journey to London Victoria, where we swapped trains for the luxury of The Orient Express and a champagne, five course lunch tour of Kent, in the beautiful Pullman carriage called Phoenix. The one sadness was that this was not a steam hauled train, but as we didn't disembark until back at Victoria Station, four very enjoyable hours later, the lack of steam was not noticed.

That wasn't the end of the days activities. Two tickets were waiting for us for the stage version of Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre. What a show, pathos, anger, comedy, music, all of that and then the dancing and amazing set changes. Brilliant, the first show that I can remember going to when there was a standing ovation. If you do get a chance to see, don't leave too soon at what appears to be the end as several people did trying to beat the leaving crush.

Well that's probably the last time for a while that I'll be wearing a suit and tie, My remaining suit will be stored at a friends for the occassional, hatchem, matchem and dispatchem situations. All other business suits, shirts and ties have gone to the charity shops, so much easier for us guys to get rid of the past.

Look out for the next blog, which will probably be after we have moved permanently onto Skyy.