My retirement garden party was yesterday. I had mixed feelings about it beforehand. My work besties organised everything so I genuinely knew nothing about it.
My gifts from the staff were specially made balloons, flowers, Prosecco, non alcoholic gin and a Dobbies voucher for £250!!! Some people brought a 'hostess' gift too.
Then most people got completely trashed (not me, I was sober!) They sang and danced loudly then pretty much refused to leave. That's the heavily edited account! I was rather disappointed with their behaviour. I felt the need to apologise to my neighbours this morning who were very gracious.
Frankly, I'm glad it's all over and I can move on now. School finishes on Friday. I'm going in on Tuesday afternoon to the leavers' assembly as I taught most of the kids who are moving on to high school in August. And that's it. I'll stay in touch with some folk but there are a few I doubt I'll ever see again. And I'm good with that.
it's exciting, a new chapter in your life, i hope you really enjoy your retirement x
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm really looking forward to it now. Officially I'm not 'retired' until August but I'm counting it as starting on Friday at 1pm!!! :-)
DeleteA whole new adventure ahead of you. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Can't wait :-)
DeleteAt last.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame the behaviour of some created a less than happy memory. However, you can put it all behind and more into the best times of your life. Enjoy spending the garden voucher! xx
Weirdly your comment didn't show up until today!! And yes I will thoroughly enjoy spending the voucher xxx
DeletePity about the drunk guests, especially in your own home. Wow, what a lovely amount on the garden voucher! You'll have great fun planning and spending that. Enjoy your new life.
ReplyDeleteI think they got so drunk that they forgot it was my home! I wonder how many bargain plants I could rescue with that amount!! :-)
DeleteLove the balloon!
ReplyDeleteYour first part of retirement will be gardening fun with that voucher to use
One of my colleagues has a machine that prints 'stuff' so she made 4 personalised ones for me! I knew I was getting a Dobbies voucher as I was asked what I'd like but didn't expect that amount! I can't wait to start doing my research before spending it! :-)
DeletePeople drink so much and behave badly. I don't drink so I am always amazed at how much people drink.
DeleteI hope that you will have happy memories of your retirement party eventually. The Dobbies voucher will be great fun to spend!
It was just the last part of the party that got out of hand. They totally forgot they were in someone's home/garden and that I had neighbours who had to listen to them for several hours. Right now I'm annoyed with some of them but it will pass. Can't wait to spend my voucher :-)
DeleteCongratulations on your retirement. Enjoy spending the vouchers and imagining how sore the heads of the wild bunch were the next morning!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Really looking forward to spending my voucher :-)
DeleteI solved the noise problem by letting my neighbours know and inviting them! One came and the other went out for the afternoon/ evening. I was slightly astonished by the state some people got into including a friend who phoned the next morning to ask where her car was and how had she got hime !! My daughter had removed her keys and parked the car round the side of the house out of site. I don’t drink and my son in law stayed sober so we ended up providing a taxi service around the area. Glad you got such a generous Dobbie’s voucher as you will be able to buy lots of plants for home and allotment. Catriona
ReplyDeleteThankfully I did warn my neighbours and I did invite them. They popped in for a wee while. But the noise was so loud and rowdy that when I took the dog out for the toilet to the wee grassy area along the road, I could still hear them!!!! I'll need to give some careful thought as to what I buy with my voucher :-)
DeleteFor me these parties where most people overdo the sauce are overrated!
ReplyDeleteHappy retirement, you are going to love it x
Alison in Wales x
I don't really drink any more and when I do it's just 1 or 2. I don't get the appeal of being so drunk you're not in control of what you do or even remember what you did. Maybe that's my age showing!! I can't wait until Friday!!!! :-)
Delete