Well its happened – I've (sort of retired).

[Richard]

I know Bob has nothing but praise for river cruising, but my SIL went with her father and husband. There were several issues that put me off. First was the need to fly to where the cruise started, the second was that the cruise company forgot to transfer them from the cattle station, sorry the airport where they arrived, to the boat. They did not mention too much about the dress for dinner part but I think that would have really gone down well with her, I would rather walk the plank! The other thing was that they made a lot of river stops and did a lot of walking about the place, really not for me, I have two speeds, a bit to fast for most people or sitting down, I cannot do standing about and I cannot do shuffling about looking at museums or whatever. It is just too painful. My wife cannot do either fast walking of the slow stuff either, well not for more than about 100 yards anyway. We did enjoy an ocean cruise twice and yes it was on a big boat. We only ever went to a ‘dress up dinner’ once. The rest of the time we went for the far nicer ‘don’t care’ option in a casual buffet eating place. The really great aspect was an easy drive to the port, drop off the cases, park the car and stagger aboard. No godawful airport with their ideas of security and long queues or the ‘compulsory shopping experiences’. However, I cannot stress too highly that if you get the right profile for you/your wife you can make it a great experience, but research first and choose what you will enjoy. There are a lot of options available and looking into the market is a big part of the enjoyment.

[blacklion1725]

Noted and thanks Richard

[Dave Rice]

It’s only really P&O that are up their own ar$e$ for sea cruising. We were looking at river cruising but having found railbookers we’re looking at “train cruising”, hence the Venice trip.

As you’re in London, you can start at St Pancras (or fly) and they do cover Russia and the 12 day Scandinavia and Russia trip is on our list. The thing is you can customise them all and take advantage of their good hotel rates to stay somewhere a * up from what you can afford on a DIY.

EasyJet have some great deals at the moment. Looking at a total of <£600 for us both for 5 days in Berlin in a central 4* in July or August. For you Amsterdam is a piece of pi$$ now Eurostar goes there. It still makes sense for us to fly there due to the expense, time and hassle getting to St Pancras.

[blacklion1725]

Thanks Dave – a mate of mine has done the Trans-Siberian Express and said it was incredible. I’ve also heard some of the internal Russian journeys are excellent – e.g. Volgograd/Stalingrad to Moscow is 18 hours (nearly had to use it last year due to fog affecting flights. Apparently it is a great way to travel if you are not in a rush, and some of the stations are works of art – I’ve seen Volgograd and it is very impressive. For Europe, the convenience (and cost) of flying from Southend tends to keep me off the railway. Its a short cab ride (or a lift if we can ponce one) and the airport (although it can get crowded) is a doddle compared to the biggies. Back on the trains, I’m thinking about visiting Kursk next year, which annoyingly youhave to flay over to get to Moscow then get a slow (but apparently enjoyable) chugger all the way back. Thanks for the links, I’m saving all this info and recommendations from you all – appreciate the advice.

[The VFM Addict]

Southend Airport !!!   Once upon a time I used it often.    Is that burnt out aircraft that they use for training still by the runway?    I’d often wind colleagues up who were with me but who hadn’t used the airport before saying that it was a great airport but had a lot of crashes.     The look on their faces was sometimes classic.   Used it to go to the Channel Islands often from there in 1980’s.   I loved the HP Herald with just a curtain ‘tween passengers and crew.   Often had a colleague with me who was ex-RAF and seemed to have trained most of the aircrew of those Heralds.    Did have one hairy moment there when coming back from Jersey a fire warning light came on on one engine and the crew even asked my colleague for his opinion.   Anyway they shut it down and we completed the last quarter of the trip back to Southend on one engine.   And that burned out hulk was in my mind all the time……

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During the Covid-19 Epidemic I will be wearing a mask and goggles while posting so that if I become infected I won't spread it to you.

[blacklion1725]

Its a “proper” airport now mate! Only annoying (but understandable) think is the timetable – for example me and me eldest went to Barcelona a couple of years back – great and cheap flight out from Southend on Easyjet – less great flight back on Ryanair in to Stansted which is not that much further away but more of a kerfuffle and Ryanair is not a great airline. At Southend from walking in to the terminal we were sat in the bar with a pint in 10 minutes. And the “gate” was about 50 yards away. Happy days.

[Drezha]

All the best! The last few days have had me considering how an early retirement would be nice, but considering I’m at least 20 years off that, I’ll have to make do with the rat race a bit longer, though I am going to be spending some time over the weekend reading up about Limited Companies and what it would entail with a seeing what would be needed to go solo…

Berlin is a good shout – we spent a few days there last two years ago. The spy museum was good, and we did some bike tours. A shame my German is so rusty, I want to start picking that up again!

"Everything looks interesting until you do it. Then you find it’s just another job" - Terry Pratchett

[blacklion1725]

Thanks Drezha – we got bought out by a  private equity firm – and it was very soon obvious that jumping now (with our very generous legacy terms) was a safer bet than hanging around and getting pushed in a year (when they our owners have been able to slash the terms). I joined early enough that I had the protected right to retire from 50 onwards. By the way for anyone who rolls their eyes at Trade Unions, my legacy terms were protected thanks to Unite – I know there’s a lot of nutters rolling round the TUC but aside from those individuals many (Unions and their officials)  do amazing work that many (including those NOT in a union) benefit from and often take for granted.

[Ed P]

In a previous life a large part of my job was dealing with members of the TGWU which later became Unite. I will agree with BL that apart from a few area convenors/Trotsky shites  most were very honourable Union representatives who only had their members interests at heart. I had a very healthy relationship with our local reps in that both of us recognised the need for a formal confrontational war dance around an apparent negotiating sticking point followed by a reconciliation where all parties became chums again.

The only downside was my becoming very cynical about politics in general as it opened my eyes to what went on in the world of politics in general.

[Drezha]

I was a member of Prospect at my previous job, but I wasn’t sure it was worth it at the time. I also felt it made the workplace a bit hostile – i.e. nothing was provided (no free tea and coffee, this had to be purchased ourselves and it was very much a case of us and them between what was considered the workers and the management. It was a fairly toxic place to work and I would have left within my three month probation period had I not been trying to join the RAF during that period.

"Everything looks interesting until you do it. Then you find it’s just another job" - Terry Pratchett

[Richard]

I find that this list is how a topic brings so many issues to light. I have sat on both sides of the Union/Management discussions usually in different meetings. It caused the odd raised eyebrow when I rolled in and sat down on the union’s side of the table;
What are you doing here?
Me
Representing my members just like you.
Generally both sides were usually in discussion mode, not warfare mode and wanted resolution not conflict so progress could be sought and usually won.
I am still in a super grumpy mood today having just had another hand operation yesterday; the surgeon’s comment ‘No wonder you wanted that fixed, your wife was right to insist you came’. This makes number 6, I should run out of fingers soon. Though I walked there and back, since driving after the procedure was not recommended, but being accompanied for a while was recommended. At least there was no rain or other issue.
It does go somewhere to explain why for us, all train travel is almost impossible and changing trains in London, with baggage is not possible. Air travel would be OK-ish, but attempts at forcing access via putrid transport make it difficult. My recent airport ‘experiences’ have been grim; one time the machine chewed up my boarding pass so I missed the flight… even though I took their machine apart and retrieved the remains; the next time boarding the flight was more akin to a scene from a gaol break B movie. It a great experience at all.

[dwynnehugh]

There is no such thing as retirement, I bet in six months time, you’ll be wondering how you ever had the time to work!! ?

The more you meet people the more you understand why Noah took animals instead of humans

[Author]

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