My trip starts in earnest this week with a flight to Vancouver. I’ll be endeavouring to update my blog as much as time will allow me, but some of the updates and most of the photos, may have to wait until I return to the UK.
The blog link is on the top menu for anyone wanting follow this bucket list trip of mine.
It looks as though Scrivener is another step closer to finally being released on IOS as it now undergoes beta testing.
I am presently using the Mac version and honestly would not go back to any other way for my writing. It is the perfect application for keeping organised, with everything in the same place, for any particular writing project you might be working on. The only issue I really had was going on holiday. I never take my laptop, just an iPad. Whilst I can formulate text files on that device, and insert them into Scrivener when I get back home, it was never ideal. An IOS application will solve this problem!
Syncing initially, I understand, will be only by Dropbox. But that in itself should not be an issue to most people.
So this year, when I go on that long summer break, I hopefully will have Scrivener IOS loaded up on my iPad!
A recent article on the Braintrust.org.uk website :
It is 2012 and I already know this is going to be a great year!
Why? This is the year I plan to retire after forty years of working in financial services. A big and bold step for a fifty eight year old but it means I will be able to spend more time with my wife and family. More quality time both at home and abroad. I’ll also be able to enjoy those hobbies and interests that I just never got time for. However, in those early months of 2012, I had no idea of the events that would unfold and change my whole perspective on life.
A little bit about me first before I continue my story. I live in the north east of England and I spent my childhood years in Blyth which is about twelve miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne. During the whole of my career I have worked in and around the River Tyne and River Tees regions employed by a large global company since leaving school. I met my future wife whilst I was based at their Newcastle upon Tyne office in 1978. She worked for the same company. For me it was love at first sight – this was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my days with! She lived locally in Dunston, Gateshead and we married two years later in 1980.
In 1983 our only son Christopher was born. Susan gave up work to be a full time mother to Christopher. After he left university he eventually ended up in New York where he met his future wife Katie who is from Alabama. They both work in New York and live in an apartment in Brooklyn with their dog Juno.
Things have changed a lot in the financial services industry over the years as no doubt it has in every other industry. It’s not the change but the pace it has been changing at which just keeps accelerating with each passing year. It is like an unstoppable train and you either cling on for dear life or get off at the next station if you can. I have had challenges thrown at me all throughout my career and always faced up to these even when I was often well out of my comfort zone. You learn a lot about yourself doing that and it helped me develop interpersonal skills for those leadership roles I undertook.
My quiet, reflective nature was not always suited to some of the pressures of leadership I faced and I found myself having to adapt my personal style many times. There is no doubt that the older you get the harder it is to adapt to change particularly if it is relentless. I think there comes a time when you start to question that change. In my job the change was implemented by a very autocratic management style at the very top of the organisation, or at least that is how it felt. Many things did not seem logical or pass the common sense test and to question this was seen as being “negative”. I have always been positive in my outlook but trying to present some business strategies to your team, when you are not fully on board yourself, was always very difficult for me.
I was in my mid forties when I first started to think ahead about retirement. I formulated a plan even at that early stage. The main concern for my wife and I was financial security. How would we cope? Therefore our main thrust has been working towards being financially secure to enjoy retirement without any financial worries. Pay debt down and build up savings were the building blocks to achieving that goal. I was lucky enough to be in a good employment pension scheme which I knew would be a great asset.
The target age I set myself early on was fifty eight. By then I would have completed forty years service, maximising my pensionable years, but taking a small financial hit because I was retiring before the age of sixty.
Here I was in 2012. The plan was coming together and this was crunch time. Did I have second thoughts? Would we manage financially? These are the kind of thoughts that must go through most people’s minds in the same position. It certainly was a case of do I stay or do I go? You’re never quite sure despite all that planning. However, for me it was an easy question to answer. In early June I handed in my notice of my intention to retire at the end of September. It was the start of a bright new world!
You can read Paul Korhonen’s, reflective, touching and very human story in full in his new book, ‘Living with Timmy’, available on Amazon:
I’ll shortly be embarking on a trip I’ve wanted to do for an awful long time – a journey through the Rocky Mountains on the iconic Rocky Mountaineer. The trip is in May and starts and finishes in Vancouver.
I’ll be taking my notebook along with me and hopefully will get plenty of material for my writing together with some photos along the way. I have a blog which I’ll try and update en route, depending on time. Otherwise I’ll update when I return to the UK.
For anyone that wants to follow this journey with me the link is at the top of this page. Can’t wait to start packing!
I received a nice email from an unexpected source today. This really made my day! Here is an extract from that email :
We found “Living with Timmy” an absorbing read, which I’m sure, will inspire others to cope with potentially serious health issues. Whilst its main focus was centred on “Timmy” and its serious implications, the book also delivered some words of wisdom from your life experiences and gave the reader occasional reason to smile as you recalled, with gentle light hearted undertones, your initial interactions with the health experts.
From knowing you as a senior work colleague (although our paths only crossed now and then), your caring and loyal family support and the backup of, despite its criticism by some, a first rate NHS, I am confident you are in a good place to take on whatever challenges “Timmy” presents you with in the years to come.
This will definitely keep me going for weeks to come!
It’s been a busy old week!
Aside from putting in some time on a new book I have also managed to get out and about on that bicycle of mine. The weather in the UK is starting to turn spring-like with daffodils now sparking into life.
My first book, “Living with Timmy” is a personal memoir about living with a brain tumour. It’s fairly narrow market that I am trying to target but have had some success in listings on other websites. Two national brain tumour support networks have also purchased copies and if they like then that should secure further sales. I should hear in a week or two how that goes – fingers crossed!
The new book I’m working on is all about changing to a more active lifestyle and losing weight in the process. I hope to have this ready for release sometime in May.
Anyway, that’s enough for now. I’m off for a cycle ride in a couple of hours!
Source: Author Interview: Paul Korhonen
A short non fiction holiday piece I did for one of my course submissions :
Queen Bee sits in all her glory as the busy dining room staff laud over her. Tonight she wears the traditional Austrian dirndl that has witnessed this scene many times over the years. Her dress size has expanded but the dirndl has not. Ample flesh spills out the top. A waiter lingers at her table longer than he should.
Only a few hours ago we arrived at our favourite holiday destination in the Austrian Tirol region. This is the busy resort of St Johann. We enjoy visiting here over the summer months for the many healthy outdoor activities this region has to offer.
“It`s good to see you both again”, exclaims the familiar face of Hans at the reception desk. The warm friendliness of the people is what we like about this country. The fantastic scenery, lush green valleys with awe inspiring mountain peaks, is truly inspirational.
Having unpacked we found ourselves in the dining room watching the scene unfold before us involving one of the regular visitors to the hotel. This Belgian lady has been coming for several years and revels in the treatment afforded to her. She is obviously very passionate about this country taking the opportunity to fully immerse herself in the whole experience including Austrian dress.
Our entertainment is interupted when Hans brings our after dinner drinks. “Coffee for you sir and a beer for the lady, ya” he announces with a glint in his eye. I couldn`t help but smile – his mischievousness hasn’t wained over the years!
Helmut wanders over. Not exactly your typical hotel owner, but a real character. He always makes a point of greeting the new arrivals.
“I see you`re back again for more punishment. Good to see you both.”
“How are you Helmut?” my wife politely enquires.
“Not so good today!” he booms out. “I lost to one of my Irish guests on the golf course.”
“Not good, eh?” I offer in feigned consolation.
“At least our weather here is better than the Irish rain!” he heckles within earshot of his new found Irish friend. I am always surprised by how inept he appears to be on the golf course despite the amount of time he spends there.
“Anyway I will leave you to relax, I need to practise my swing for another match against the Irishman tomorrow,” he chuckles.
Our centre stage guest stands up to make her grand exit. I half expect trumpets to break the dining room buzz with a farewell fanfare. I am left somewhat disappointed by their absence.
The after dinner stroll into resort centre quickens in the knowledge there is a special singer on stage tonight in the market square. The usual oompah band has lost favour. The gathered audience awaits with eager anticipation as a pink cadillac pulls up by the stage.
A figure in a white jumpsuit mounts the stage to huge cheers. Elvis gets a real tirolean welcome. He is alive and well living in the Tirol!
“I HATE this bloody car park!”
“You say that every time” my better half calmly retorted.
I was wound up tighter than the cork I had unpopped in that bottle of Beaujolais last night. What had started off as a routine Saturday morning trip was turning out to be another nightmare.
We had set off later than I`d have liked and the illuminated signs at my usual car park told me it was full – how do they know? Does someone sit there counting the cars in and presumably out again? I doubt it but I wasn`t going to take the chance of spending my Saturday morning going around in ever decreasing circles.
So here I was at the car park from hell where half an inch between cars was a bonus. The sole aim of the proprietors seemed to be to squeeze as much metal and rubber into this place as possible regardless of the consequences! And, of course, there was the obligatory four-wheel drive parked breaching the yellow line next to me. I`d have to have the elasticity of Mr Fantastic from the Fantastic Four to even remotely have any chance of getting out of this car.
Reversing out, the car radar was like a hyperactive child with a constant warning tone filling my ears.
“Watch this side” barked my wife.
“I`m too busy watching this four-wheel monstrosity” I shouted. “Besides, the radar will warn …”
Too late, I could here the sound of scraping metal ringing in my ears above the high pitched noise of the radar warning. Having extracted myself from the space they called a parking bay, I got out the car to inspect the damage. Not a mark on his car but mine looked like someone had taken an electric grinder to it! That would cost a pretty penny to put right, I thought.
I got back into the car. My other half had that smug ‘I told you so’ look on her face. Nothing needed to be said. I quietly drove out of that metal graveyard vowing never to return but knowing full well there was every likelihood I`d be back again next Saturday to do battle again.
It was hard for George to stir himself from bed on that morning of all mornings. To tell you the truth it had been hard for him over the last 3 months. He had felt nothing but an emptiness in his life. A great big void that refused to be filled.
It reminded him of the time his family moved house all those years ago. He remembered it all so well. Like yesterday. His father got moved with his job. It was difficult enough for him at that age but the long move up north meant he would leave all his friends be- hind. He protested with his parents for weeks beforehand but in the end he had to accept the inevitable. He found it hard to make new friends easily.
It was his first day at the new school. He felt so alone and vulnerable but tried not to show it for fear of upsetting his mother. She had waved him goodbye at the school gates. He stood there alone in the playground. The energy and noise from the other children re- verberated all around him. He wanted to find somewhere at that precise moment to hide and close his eyes until it was time to go home.
As he stood there his gaze met that of a young girl who stood with a group of friends. She had a round face with blonde unruly hair but otherwise was neatly dressed. Her eyes met his and it was if she understood his uncertainty in that instance. Even at that young age she had stood out from the other girls and had a smile which would always melt his heart.
She walked over smiling and gently said, “You must be the new boy. It must be a bit strange for you at a new school and all. Come and meet my friends and I`ll show where our class is when the bell goes.”
He was mesmerised by her right from the start. She stayed by his side and looked after him for the rest of the day making sure that he found his way to all his classes. She showed him where to go at break times. George did not want that day to end. To his de- light the same routine followed the next day and the days that followed. They formed a close friendship and he quickly forgot the friends he had left behind.
He remembered all the fun they had together during those innocent school days and the pranks they used to play on each other. That wicked mischievous smile remained with her throughout her life. They shared many laughs together over the years and into married life.
George knew from that first day at school that they would be with each other for the rest of their lives. He thought Ethel did too but she refused to admit it to him opting to keep George “on his toes” as she liked to call it. Usually followed by that smile of hers.
Now there was just emptiness in his life. She had been a fighter he remembered. In those last days he knew she had been in considerable pain but typical of Ethel she refused to show it. She was protecting him again from the reality of it all and would have called it “keeping a brave face”. Something she had always been good at.
The pain was still with him. Watching someone fight for their last breath was not easy. In the end she had to let go of her tenuous grip on life. He had cried so much during those early days unable to accept the final reality of it all. Why on earth had it happened to Ethel he had thought at the time.
Gradually a numbness settled over his life. He rebuffed any contact with family and friends. He preferred to mourn her loss on his own despite their best efforts to the con- trary. Finally, a reluctant but inevitable acceptance settled over him, and now there was only the void left which Ethel had previously filled.
Today of all days felt especially difficult for George. It was their wedding anniversary. A day they always looked forward to. The routine had always been the same over the years.
They would start by having breakfast in bed whist looking through their old wedding al- bum. George would arrange for a bouquet of flowers to be delivered to Ethel sometime during the morning from the local florist. Pink roses. She always liked pink roses he thought. George would then whisk her off to somewhere he had picked out for lunch. Out in the country, followed by a slow drive back home.
It would be different today but he decided he would keep to some of the old routine whilst having breakfast. He carefully took the album from the sideboard drawer. Apart from the formal photographs there were those from wedding guests tucked in the back of the album. No matter how careful he was when taking it from the drawer one or two pho- tographs always fell out. Today was no exception.
Amongst the fallen photographs on the floor his gaze focused on a white envelope which fell with them. His attention was on the handwriting which was unmistakably Ethel’s de- spite being shaky. The envelope was simply addressed to him and sealed.
George froze, knowing that he had not seen this when he had taken the album out last year. His upper lip visibly trembled as he bent down to pick the envelope up. He then sat down but could hardly dared open it. Emotion welled up in his eyes. Carefully he opened it. Inside was a letter in the same handwriting as on the front of the envelope. The letter
was written on two sheets of the pink floral writing paper he had bought Ethel for her birthday. Slowly he read it :
Darling George,
I know you will be reading this letter on our special day.
Forgive my handwriting but it is difficult for me to hold the pen steady. With each day that passes I feel I am slipping further and further away from you and thought it would be better to write this note to you now rather than leave it much longer.
You are probably wondering how I managed to slip this letter into the album. Well, you will recall I asked for one last look of our photographs towards the end. I knew that you would take them out and look at them today. Our day. You always were a creature of habit!
George I hope you are looking after yourself. You always took pride in your appearance even on that first day we met. I still remember the newly pressed school uniform you wore. So unlike the other boys, who looked as though they had rolled around in the mud. Come to think of it they probably had! I never told you George but right from that first day I knew that you were for me. A girl has to have some secrets from her husband!
You always were so different from the other boys. Kind and considerate with a genuine sense of fun. Life throws an awful lot of stuff at you and you have to have a laugh along the way. I felt I did with you George.
But life moves on. I know you will have found it difficult these last few weeks. You will have moped around refusing any help. I know you too well. You are a good man George and really deserve to live out the rest of your life with the same happiness that we enjoyed together.
It is hard for me to write this letter but I really do want you carry on with a full life. You deserve it. The memories and our love together, no one can take away. These memories and that love made us the people we are. You must continue to live on.
My love will be with you forever more as I know your love will be for me. But that love needs to continue in your life. You have friends all around you and I want you to enjoy the rest of your life George. I really mean it and I know this may even mean meeting a lady friend some time in the future. Bring her the same happiness you brought to me.
Only one small proviso – make sure she moves aside when your time comes to join me!
I will always love you.
Your darling wife Ethel
Tears slowly trickled down the creases in George`s face. Ethel had known she was near the end. Even then she had casts thoughts of herself aside and thought only of George. Looking after him again. Just like those early school days.
George spent the rest of the morning looking through the album and reliving the memo- ries caught on camera. He reread Ethel`s letter several times and carefully put it in the back of the album with the loose photographs. He knew he would get them out again next year no matter what happened. His memorial to Ethel he would call it.
Later that day he picked up the telephone and slowly pressed some familiar numbers.
“Hello,” the voice said at the other end.
“Hello Peggy, it`s Dad”
“Hello Dad?” There was a tone of surprise in Peggy`s voice.
“Is it okay if I come for tea next Sunday?”
“We would love you to come Dad … it`s been so long …” There was obvious emotion in Peggy`s voice. He could sense she was crying at the other end. George shed a tear or two also. Tears of joy.
When George had finished on the telephone he knew what he needed to do. He had to live his life. Ethel was right. He would remember her always but he needed to move on.
The Open Bookshelf 