Toots

I think the OP's partner has passed away as she did say "my children's late father". I wonder how the OP is getting on and if she made it to the UK with her children.

Hope you are as fit as a fiddle very soon. People I know who have had Covid (all vaccinated) have had very minor symptoms for some and others were poleaxed by it. Strange virus indeed.

It can't be easy to play the flute whilst being DOUBLE masked. Strict mask wearing in Hong Kong.

Continuing on from mask wearing or not .................. I still try to steer well clear of people who are coughing/sneezing and continue to wash my hands when I come back from shops - also wipe the shopping trolley handle before using it. Never had Covid and not had a cold for years. Still never had flu either. Fingers crossed it remains like that.

Yes it definitely depends on what you do for a living and also how fit you are. I knew a shepherd in Scotland who never retired and worked almost up to the day he died at 86.

We have to wear a mask when we visit hospitals or the docs. Not required anywhere else but I still see some people walking around wearing them and also driving there car wearing a mask which I think is a bit over the top.

I have a couple of friends (in Sydney) who worked until they were 70. Never thought of going on the pension. They are now happily retired. Neither of them look their age.

Pensioners here are being encouraged to work part-time if they want to fill job vacancies due to workforce shortage. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-01/pensioners-work-more-workforce-shortage-alternatives/101194140

Lovely day in Sydney yesterday for elder son's wedding. Wonderful day! Younger son made it for his brother's wedding thank goodness. He moved jobs recently from New York to Bermuda and just missed tropical cyclone Fiona.

What an elegant, handsome boy!

The big jump in he UK cost of living seems to have happened so quickly. Reading earlier posts on this thread from some UK members, they have hardly noticed the sudden rise. My sister and friends in the UK (mainly in the north and Scotland) all retirees, have all commented on the sudden rise in the cost of living. COL has also risen here but seems to have been more gradual ....................... I've noticed it rising especially over the last 4 years or so.

A worldwide story. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

It sounds horrible and so expensive. Hope your elderly boy is almost back to himself again.

3rd line today. New York one. Totally bombed out of the UK one.

That's really not good enough. Your poor dogs. Surely people who actually care about animals should be employed to look after the dogs/cats. Is it true the quarantine charge is $2000 for the ten days quarantine per animal?