THE SOLO SENIOR: ANIMAL LOVER?

I LOVE ANIMALS

Yes,I love lions in jungles,sharks in oceans,monkeys in trees
and leopard print on scarves.You get the picture?

I love cats.My favourite moggies live in loungerooms.Not
mine,though.

Now,dogs,I love dogs.I love dusty kelpies on outback stations
and border collies chasing sheep into shearing sheds.

I'm not to keen on koalas.Doped up on eucalyptus leaves,they
could fall on the kangaroos.

Lots of people REALLY love animals.A guy I know rounded up
some stray mutts and took them to Maccas.After many
Happy Meals,the pooches wanted to jump back in the car.
Oops.

Another animal lover rushed off to Thailand to wash elephants
and eat rice for a week.As if that will help stop the illegal
ivory trade.

Turning a house into an aviary for exotic birds is quite popular
though,for me,it's not so much about the poo on the curtains,
it's the pecking in the hair.

I think that I love horses most of all.However some people
love horses so much they give away all their money and
most of their possessions as proof of that love.

I am an animal lover......from a distance.

THE SOLO SENIOR'S HAPPY DAYS

RETIREMENT PLANS

When I retired,I made plans.I plan to be fit and
healthy.I no longer smoke,I indulge in the odd
glass of wine,I control my weight with a good
diet and lots of exercise.

I walk every day,play competition tennis,practice
yoga.Yay me,right?

John Lennon said,"Life happens when you are
making other plans."

I have a kink in my back from my vounteer job
lugging books round the local library.My dicky
knee requires an elastic brace to get me onto
a tennis court.Chewing all those healthy nuts
and grains cracked my dental bridge.

I cancelled the plan to take an island cruise.
Boo hoo,John.

Just when I have all this time to do all those
things that I couldn't do because of work,my
body packs it in.

On a positive note,I have really healthy hair
and a bright smile.I hadn't planned that.

LUNCHING LADIES

MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANT

My stylish friend,Trish,joins me for lunch
at my favourite restaurant in Forster.The
Paradise Marina is known for superb
seafood and my dish does not disappoint.

Japanese prawns with a spicy dipping
sauce and a glass or two of champers
is foodie heaven for me and Trish.

Time slips by as we take in the sparkling
water view and chat about this and that.
A perfect afternoon.Thankyou,Trish.

THE RELUCTANT RETIREE

DID I RETIRE TOO SOON?

I sometimes think that I retired from
the workforce too soon.I take my
good health for granted and have the
energy of a ten-year old on a sugar
high.Therefore,I need to be busy
during those hours that I used to fill
with work.

I achieved that goal this week and
enjoyed myself immensely.Mornings
were taken up with two sessions of
yoga by the sea,playing tennis and
volunteering at the local library.Oh,
I did a few household chores.

My afternoons have been devoted to
painting while listening to music and
reading in the sunshine.

I now think of retirement as a newly
discovered parallel Universe and I am
glad that I crossed over.

SOLO SENIOR AND FRIENDS

A MORNING IN NABIAC

When the Nabiac country markets were on,everyone
came to town.I'd never seen so many sensible
shoes as I strolled among the fresh produce stalls.
There were even live chooks for sale,clucking in
cages next to the free range eggs.

I was with friends who steered me across the road,
past the Saddlery and into the Old Curiosity Shop.
Glorious junk,bibs and bobs displayed on and
around Nan's furniture and Pop's old tools.

Ah,but next door was the shop of retro dreams,
like stepping into the Antiques Roadshow.
Beyond this eclectic emporium was the courtyard
cafe,The Magnolia Teahouse.Under the branches
of an ancient magnolia tree,we three enjoyed our
coffee and delicious cakes served on the pretty
china of yesteryear.

It was a lovely morning spent with friends in the
lively rural town of Nabiac.

A SOLO SENIOR VOLUNTEERS

AT THE LIBRARY

What happened at the library on my first day
as a volunteer? I ran into many old friends as
I wheeled a trolley full of books to be returned
to the shelves.

I said hello to Moby Dick and Lord of the Rings,
the Hobbit and Hucklebury Finn.I saw the Girl
with the Dragon Tattoo and smiled at a dusty
Germaine Greer.

The Cat in the Hat and the Hungry Hippo were
in the children's corner with the Wiggles and
Humphrey Bear on DVD.Where's Wally? I still
don't know.

On the flip side,I knew very few in the Military
and only nodding aquaintances in Religions
of the World.

I must admit to flirting with some new friends
to take home with me next week when I am on
volunteer duty at the the library again.

LEST WE FORGET

AN ANZAC DAY MEMORY

I attended an ANZAC service at the Tuncurry
Memorial Park.I shed a tear for the diggers
and walked back home.On the way,I thought
of another day when tears were shed in
memory of fallen comrades in arms.

There were men in the loungeroom.A reunion,
Mum said.I was told to go outside to play.
I didn't.I sneaked up the hall and pushed the
loungeroom door open a crack.I could see
brown beer bottles on the low table.It must
have been a special occasion.The bottles
with VB labels only appeared at Christmas
or when Hawthorn won the footy.

I pushed the door open wider.I saw men
lined up and my father standing in front of
them,reading from a book.I coudn't hear what
Dad was saying.Tears rolled down his face.
My Dad was crying.I crept away.