Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure (comments thread)

[Richard]

Ps. So you were/are on vacations ...

Regarding your "vacation" question, Gus ...

Susan has temporarily pulled me out of "retirement" and put me back to work ... 
(Hopefully, I'll be able to "retire" again sometime soon.) ... 

Thanks for your comments about Maisie and Fred's Hurricane Gustav Adventure!

All the best,
Richard

[Martin Milner]

Replenish sounds like a good idea after that harrowing storm chase scenario, Richard. Glad you and Susan, and Maisie & Fred, are all OK and no damage done.

Your drive very nearly took you between two places dear to my heart - Houston where my dear in-laws live, and Miami Beach where Beth and I got married.

When we were in Miami in Feb 2006, there was still much evidence of damage from Hurricane Wilma, and one Hotel we had booked in the Everglades had to cancel our booking, because it was not longer suitable for guests.

[Richard]

Replenish sounds like a good idea after that harrowing storm chase scenario, Richard. Glad you and Susan, and Maisie & Fred, are all OK and no damage done.

Thanks, Martin ...

It was quite an experience ... 

We have another business trip scheduled this month. This time, Maisie and Fred will get to visit San Antono, Texas and San Francisco, California. Hopefully, this trip will be a bit calmer ... 

Your drive very nearly took you between two places dear to my heart - Houston where my dear in-laws live, and Miami Beach where Beth and I got married.

When we were in Miami in Feb 2006, there was still much evidence of damage from Hurricane Wilma, and one Hotel we had booked in the Everglades had to cancel our booking, because it was not longer suitable for guests.

As you may already know, Susan is from Houston and still has her corporate office there.

Hurricane Wilma made quite a mess when it went through South Florida. I was just looking at the "projected path" of Hurricane Ike. Let's hope that the weather forecasters are wrong. Hurricane Ike is packing winds of 135 plus miles an hour. South Florida doesn't need that kind of visitor!

Thanks again, Martin, for getting me started with Maisie and Fred. After Tropical Storm Hanna clears out of the area, I'm sure that F&M will have some photos to share from Fort Lauderdale ... 

All the best,
Richard

see attachment

[playmofire]

Dangerous and exciting times, Richard.  Glad all four of you got through it safely.  A bit of R and R is what you all need now, and then some time to relax in the warmth of the sun.

No doubt Maisie and Fred will say whether they preferred Hadrian's Wall or their Gustav adventure after my planned Hadrian's Wall walk next year.  If the weather then is anything like what we have been having recently, their decision may be far from clear cut, sheer persistence and quantity of the rain making up for the force of Gustav.

[Gustavo]

You have plenty of hurricanes up there, on the North Atlantic ...
South of the Equator line, all we have are cold winds, coming from the South Pole.

By the way ... Stars (and other astral pilgrims) are named after those who find them ...
How are hurricanes named, do you have any ideas?

Gus



[P.s.: Certainly NOT after the king of Sweeden! ]

[CountBogro]

I am afraid there may be trouble for Maisie and Fred.
I found this article in the newspaper ("De Pers", friday the 12th of September 2008).

It's about a number of things, but including a small part about pensioners who might have over-the-top rates for their pensions and might be loosing out a lot.

I surely hope this doesn't effect Fred and Maisie too much though ...

Bogro

[playmofire]

Keep us informed, Bogro, so we can help them if necessary. 

Looking at the picture more closely, does the problem also affect Richard?

[Martin Milner]

Neat use of a couple of different sets there, that other greybeard (not Richard) who is trying to steal Maisie away from Fred came in a hospital set.

I've been saving towards my pension since I was 26 and I still have no idea if it'll be enough when the time comes.

[Richard]

Looking at the picture more closely, does the problem also affect Richard?

Neat use of a couple of different sets there, that other greybeard (not Richard) who is trying to steal Maisie away from Fred came in a hospital set.

Hmmm ... Do you think that they're taking turns ... riding in the wheel chair?

I've been saving towards my pension since I was 26 and I still have no idea if it'll be enough when the time comes.

My advice to you, Martin ...

Saving (and investing) are good, but it's a good idea to have a job that you can do regardless of your age.

Unless you make so much money that you don't have to ever worry about money, you will need to continue working (at least part time) if you want to maintain the lifestyle that you had before you became a "pensioner".

There are some people who can "scale down" when they retire and live "comfortably" on their savings and/or pension. But, this is not always easy to do physically or mentally. Those that seem to be the happiest are the ones who continue working at something that they enjoy, and are also able to manage their own time and schedule. In other words ... the best "retirement plan" seems to be working at something you like, when you want to.

All the best,
Richard

[Gustavo]

I am afraid there may be trouble for Maisie and Fred.
I found this article in the newspaper ("De Pers", friday the 12th of September 2008).

It's about a number of things, but including a small part about pensioners who might have over-the-top rates for their pensions and might be loosing out a lot.

I surely hope this doesn't effect Fred and Maisie too much though ...

Bogro

The attachment of your post is WONDERFUL!!! Bogro ... Although I can't understand a word of ... er, Dutch (??!)

My father loves to make newspapers (for the family, for friends, & so on ...); I hope I can show him this (as well as explain a bit of what it's about ...)


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I promised myself I won't buy a stick until I'm 60 (unless, of course, I come to need one ... I hope not!!). I had to promise so because I'd have one, and eventually even walk with it around, now and again ... Good times, the end of the XIXth century !

But then, I have a couple of umbrellas that give me the taste ... (Pity it doens't rain so much in Rio, so I can't always keep using them. A coat & a hat is easier.)



Gus