RETIRED OFFICIALLY NO MORE WRETCHED AMEC

We celebrated my retirement in many low key ways on a very busy but relaxed day. After getting the orders away at the post office, I now use the lower Peover shop once more, I couldn't retaliate for rudeness forever then we headed in to Knutsford for a quick bit of bank business mainly to ensure there were funds to pay for the painting we rashly ( or not) purchased in Cornwall the other week. Then we went to the Whitworth gallery in Manchester which was basking i9n the strangely warm autumnal sunshine. The cafe amongst the trees was great and of course the collection of water colours especially Turner's were lovely to see again.

This left us with a lot of time so next we went to the gallery of costume just further past the university, it is only open a couple of days a week, it looked better inside than my last visit circa 38 years ago. Mandy purchased another scarf only their card machine was playing up so we paid for a scarf two packets of crisp and a pint of bitter to add up to the total, yes it's true (ish). Sitting outside waiting for them to open was a joy watching the leaves fall in tet more sunshine.

Then we went to the Spire Manchester for Mandy's discharge consultation with Prof Jari, the steroid injection on her knee has worked very well. The next phase was a visit to the centre of Manchester and some of the best shops, I stocked up on shampoo at Occitane, the bits we couldn't get at the outlet centre at Cheshire Oaks that is. Then Mandy bought a dress for the December wedding in Beaumaris at White Stuff. Then we went to the Body shop only it said Boy Shop as the d had vanished, town full of big issue sellers and dossers, Manchester is an awful place these days needs a good sluicing down.

A huge batch of orders have come through on the internet , hopefully we can get a few sorted before I go out in the morning, aiming at buses in Lancashire, Lancaster, Chorley and Accrington perhaps, may be Leyland to see what has happened to the ex Fishwick services, very little on it on the web so far just the ceasing of trade and the Stagecoach on the Preston Leyland run. Some more shots from yester day. This evening we had tea at Brodski restaurant at the RNCM , a leisurely retirement dinner before the concert, well attended , nice variety from La Mer through Ravel; piano concerto to Debussy tone poem and the finale Scriabin's Wagner inspired Poem de l'extase - very very full on orchestra and organ rattling the roof. Bravo.