A_L

Hi-no Karina is just one of the young ladies' in the office whom I check out regularly-and that's their accounts work I be checking out, before you start worrying about tape measures and scientific calculations re spankability!

Karina is a bloody absolute babe, without a doubt, and the fact she is 22 & I is 56 would have no impact on mutual desirability-the facts are also that we are both happily with other people, so that's that, though I have intrigued Mike with tales of Karina for months.

I'm afraid I can't ignore the fact that Karina helps brighten up any man's day. God knows I've needed that a lot since last August 2007 with all Sarah's been through, plus the fact that Karina is always asking how Sarah's progressing with her treatment.

No, the person is my HEO line manager, Cheryl. She was told, in October 2007, by some clown in HR,when I first requested early retirement, that there was no chance of an individual getting out on favourable terms.

Well, I was not forced to go on the unfavourable Acturarily Reduced Rate, where you get x years reduced by y %, so I didn't have to settle for £84 a week & a lump sum of £11,000.

Nor was my lot destined to be Approved Early Release-pension £104 a week & lump sum of £15,000. Cheryl made a persuasive business case & just wouldn't take no for an answer.

So, next Friday, 12th December, I retire early. Flexible Early Release & pension enhanced up to what it would have been if I'd stayed until 60. Pension will be £134 a week for life & lump sum £19k+.

No, THAT's a woman and a half-as if being married to Sarah wasn't good enough, I go and get a line manager like Cheryl who just walks through walls for me. That's why I sent her chocolates & flowers to say thanks.

I've almost been tempted to behave myself for the last few weeks at work-and people have noticed this has happened once or twice, so Cheryl's had her reward after all!


Steve M

A_L

Should have added to the above.


If I was shipwrecked on the desert island, my one luxury would be Cheryl if no rescue was planned etc-she'd get us back to our loved ones.

If I knew the spotter planes would pick us up inside a month, Karina would have to be the luxury. I could always try and explain it to Sarah by saying I misread the script-thought you could have a good bonk on the island, and not a good book!


Steve M

Steve, that's great news! You won't regret it at all, I assure you, and I speak from experience. I took the early retirement trail myself many years ago, and at a ridiculously young age, 49. Some of my former colleagues have beaten even that since, as it was a job where if you weren't burnt out by 50 you weren't pulling your weight. Being on call 24/7 takes its toll!

Some advice: The financial situation takes a bit of getting used to at first. Watch your spending initially, and don't hit that lump sum too hard with anything frivolous. Sadly you aren't going to get a high return on it at present, but equally we can hope that low inflation won't erode it too badly. You'll probably be surprised just how much it was costing you to go to work, and how much you save by not doing so.

I'm sure you will be well briefed on this anyway, but as I understand it if you work less than 16 hours a week (and I'm sure managing your eBay empire takes much less than that) you should be able to claim job seeker's allowance, or something similar. Of course, you'll have to deal with those pesky Civil Servants in the employment office and you might even have to look for a job!

I wish yourself and Sarah all the very best for the future, and I hope that the health problems you have faced together are ending or ended. One warning though. If you think you were busy when you were working, wait 'till you retire! Really hectic and enjoyable life starts when you shed the shackles of full time employment!

A_L

Thanks. Sarah will no longer have to wash my shirts free of all that salivating for Karina, so that'll save a few bob, plus the 3 capucinos each & every day at £1.13 a time, though that will bankrupt the canteen, too!!

Seriously, my late & much lamented Father-in-law's reaction to "good" news in the FT in 1988 re deregulation of the City has always stayed with me. The quizzical "H-mmmm" and knowing slightly-arched eyebrow at the article's mildly thrilled tone is still with me, though he died in 1994.

Consequently, Sid might have been told, but I already had read and memorised the small print-The value of stocks and shares may rise as well as fall! So, the silly tits and sharks on Wall or Gresham Street don't overly concern me, except on principle.

Sarah was, unlike dear Keith, not cut out to be a stockbroker nor financial analyst. Rest assured, though, she has insisted that we have enough contingency funds, accounts, outlets etc to fund Barack Obama's forthcoming national debt!! At the last count, I think there was one for each of our 10 cats, but I might have forgotten a couple.


Steve M

Mimi he say, man who has ten cats is very lucky, no mice.

And also ten excuses for extra Xmas & birthday presents for Sarah!!


Steve M