Normality returns

~ beetleypete

From tomorrow, the 4th of January, life goes back to normal in Beetley. Other than some different days for bin collections, the local kids go back to school, people who still go out to work (including Julie) start work again, and all shop-opening hours return to pre-Christmas times.

One of the things about geting old, at least for me, is comfort in familiarity. I don’t embrace change as I once did, (if I ever did) and like to know my routine is not disrupted. Just like my beloved dog, Ollie, I am happy with what I know.

Because of the Christmas holidays, I had to write down the bin-collection revisions on my new 2022 Sharpei calendar. I always have a calendar on my desk, and write everything I need to remember in the large box provided for each day. When you are retired, so many days merge into a blur, so I also get a lot of comfort from my calendar.

(Tech wizards please note*, I am too old to rely on a mobile phone to tell me all this stuff.)

So from tomorrow, I will be able to ring the Vet to get Ollie sorted, and ring the car mechanics to get my car sorted. I will be able to make a booking for Julie’s birthday meal on the 14th, and every service normally used will be back to normal.

That makes me very relieved.

Since Christmas Eve, I have felt as if I was in limbo. Every day was the same, just different levels of housework or cooking required. Once Julie’s birthday is celebrated on the 14th, (I have already bought the card and presents) we can relax until my birthday in March.

I have eleven months until the Christmas madness starts all over again, and I will enjoy every one of them.

63 thoughts on “Normality returns”

  1. Dear Pete,
    yes, I also find days off very nice. But I’m also happy when things return to normal.

    This year I will be part of the New Year for the last time in my working life. I’ll be retired next year. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to be at home forever. But maybe then I’ll have time to read your blog every day and not just on Sundays. 🙂

    Incidentally, I also use a wall calendar for my appointments, but I also write them down on my cell phone and I am reminded of it a day in advance. Great invention.
    Best wishes, Irene

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    1. Retiring from work almost 10 years ago is the best decision I ever made, Irene.
      I hope you will enjoy your forthcoming retirement, and I am sure you will find things to do with your new-found freedom.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  7. I use a wall calendar in the kitchen for everything. I never even tried to do it on a device. I use road maps, too. Omicron is raging here and limiting things like school because of a shortage of bus drivers and teachers. How is it there?

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    1. We have so many people forced to self-isolate, one large rail company has cancelled all commuter trains for a month, due to drivers isolating. Our bins are not being collected because of the same issue, and more people are infected with Omicron than the previous variants. However, hospital admissions have not been as bad, and far fewer people are dying because of becoming infected. Yesterday, Boris announced there will be ‘no further restrictions’.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  11. Hi Pete, while I do like the Christmas shutdown as I actually get time off without being constantly bothered by work. I find it a disconcerting time. Everything stopping is weird and a bit creepy for me. It used to remind me of the morning after the meteor shower in Day of the Triffids. Now it reminds me of lockdown.

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  12. Pete, your post put a smile on my face and as I continued reading, it widened into a chuckle!
    I can relate to making numerous lists, the calendar, the comfort in routine, and tech un-savyness. In fact, my last post “Woes of a dinosaur” was about me being “technologically challenged!”
    My life before retirement from teaching where other than the daily schedule (consisting of increments of 15,30,60 minutes), was anything but routine or normal!
    I thoroughly enjoyed and looked forward to each challenging day of teaching a motley group of diverse students! However, now I won’t trade the comfort and assurance of slow paced, routine, “be kind to myself” lifestyle!
    Best wishes,
    Chaya

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  20. It sounds good, Pete. Consider yourself lucky. Here we celebrate Epiphany on the 6th of January, and it is officially the day when the children get their presents (now many get them over the Christmas period or they are divided up between the two dates), so the holidays are not quite over yet. I am not a fan of Christmas, although I am kept busy with activities related to the radio, so there is more variety to the days. Stay safe and enjoy every single day. ♥

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    1. We had to endure one last public holiday here, then back to routine. At least Tesco was open normal hours today, so I could get the ‘big shop’ out of the way.
      Cheers, Pete.

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  23. Me too, Pete. From the middle of November (we have Thanksgiving) I feel totally un-settled. I also have to write everything down and if I was to put it in my Smart phone, God knows where I would end up. We are creatures of habit.

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  24. I like routine so that I can break it when I feel like I’m in a rut. I swing back and forth. Right now, I’m glad to be back to my routine – work, after school chores, dinner, entertainment, bed. Repeat.

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  26. I know exactly what you mean about change, Pete: I don’t respond well to it either — I like a routine, and living alone means that it is generally easier to stick to it. I am looking forward to the longer days, though: I might have a bit more energy than I do at the moment! Cheers, Jon.

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