Movin' on...

Had a surprise visit from a cousin last night, whom I haven't seen for around 3 years.

He was aware that I had retired from clinical practice, but was really surprised when I said I was going to retire, that is exactly what I meant. I did love my jobs (as a GP and a GP educator) and I miss them and the fabulous people I worked with. But retirement to me is exactly that - moving on to a new phase in my life where I don't spend most of my day dealing with all sorts of people with all sorts of problems.

I don't really think my colleagues would want me to put a brake on any important decisions in the practice, and they must decide how to take it forward. I can give them my twopennyworth, but I think they can cope without me.

So I am now no longer registered as a doctor with the General Medical Council, and am pleased to be out of their potential clutches, as they do not inspire me as an organisation.

My cousin has changed his arrangements - he was splitting his life between Vancouver and Doncaster, but now is moving to Bristol (a lovely city) where I shall be able to visit him and his wife.

However, tomorrow I am going on holiday, and will hope to blog my way through France.

7 a.m. on a local canal walk

One of the great delights of leisure is walking. I am blessed, in the area that I live in, that there are lots of lovely walks, not only for the formerly sedentary, but also for the more active walkers.

Many of the best walks are around our local canals, that seem in pretty good repair.

It is nice to walk for an hour each morning, very quickly getting away from the hurly-burly. The pleasures of spotting wild rhubarb, and even a forest of Japanese knotweed on the banks of the local river, which runs right by the local canal. The key to my latter-day enthusiasm will be if I can continue to walk even in the rain.

Hi there.....

Three months have elapsed since I wrote anything.

Three glorious happy months off the hamster-wheel of work.

I have not even kept up much with what has gone on in the healthcare system of the UK, as it just seems to be going from bad to worse; I have family and friends who are still working within English General Practice, and they keep me up to date with what is going on. I wish them all the best, as the next 2-3 years will be challenging times for everyone.

I am cautiously returning to blogging, and hope that this is not too self-indulgent.

The next thing on the horizon is a long holiday in France. You might say 'a holiday from what?', and that is a fair point. However, I hope when I return to start giving a viewpoint on healthcare in England, and the position of the patient as well as a retired doctor.

Getting prepared pour mes vacances.......