I have been away for a couple of weeks on my first foreign trip for three years. We went on a cruise from Southampton to the Western Mediterranean, visiting Spain and France. The run up to the holiday was rather fraught, what with constant reminders about health matters, particularly with reference to Covid-19. I had a sneaking suspicion that this would prove to be unnecessary and so it did; almost all Covid precautions have now been abandoned both here and in Europe, it is just the various websites, including the British Government’s, that need updating.

My wife had suggested that I take my laptop with me but I was not so keen. I really wanted to relax on this trip and the thought of doing any kind of work really jarred. Also, the cheapest daily rate for internet access on the ship was £18, which I was not willing to pay. So, I saved us some money and I avoided doing any work for two weeks.

I am back for another couple of weeks before jetting off to Tuscany for a short break. It has been just a little over four weeks since I took early retirement and I am thoroughly enjoying it. One thing that I do need to do, and my wife agrees with me, is to structure my days so that I can keep on top of the necessary chores about the house, do the creative things that I have yearned to do for so long, and earn a little money as well. After we have been to Italy we will have a long and hopefully sunny summer to do that very thing.