1st Jan 2011

Well here it is at last. A new post after about eight months of not posting. And what an eight months. My wife died in July last year after being ill in hospital for three months. That of course made huge changes in my life.

After the initial grief I had to go back to work. Apart from the financial side and I needed the money, I just could not sit in front of the TV or computer for hours on end. I went back full time to another firm called 'New Adventure Travel'. Back to my old job of bus driving.

Because of the retirement rules and my age I could not go back to my old company anyway and this job suits me. There is little stress and I just get on with it. I have been working long hours from 07.00 to 6.00pm but in the new year I have changed for shorter hours just until 4.30 pm. That will be easier and I do not need the longer shifts.

I will try and make this blog up to date more often. If anyone reads this can you let me know just so I know it has been seen.

Back in work

Another day in work and I have not written in my blog for nearly a week. The letter of intent to retire caused a few surprises I can tell you! It is all over the job now but after 33 years I have been part of the furniture and many drivers and other members of staff have wished me well. It has been very touching to know so many wish me well for the future.

I have been asked about having a leaving do over our club and I will have a think about that. I am not a big club user as the disabled facilities are not that good, but I would like the chance to have a good send off. I will have a chat to the guy who runs the club and see what he thinks about it.

The weather has stayed damn cold again but I guess as it is still only the end of January it is what we can expect. More snow is forecast but hopefully not to much over this part. I for one can do without the damn stuff.

I also have another blog called ' On the Buses' about the years that I have spent working in the public transport industry. This week a writer based in Chicago wrote in saying that he had been reading the blog and was writing a book. A very small part would be based around a bus conductor in Cardiff and he wanted some advice on the routes that he would take and the area he would conduct.

For one I was thrilled that anyone had read the blog in the first place! And of course I send on all I could think of about the conductor and work back then.

Right it is time to close as I am off to work.