Sunday, July 10, 2011

Retirement anniversary

Today marks the first anniversary of my retirement - how time flies!

So…what’s it like? well one of the obvious benefits of not working anymore is not having to get up at 6:30am to go to work, I still use the clock radio alarm every morning but now it’s usually set for 8:30am, weekends included. This is to maintain some sort of routine but more specifically to let the chooks out of their run and for the dog to do her business. Some weekday mornings depending on the weather conditions I can hear the traffic drone and feel quite contented that I’m not part of that any more.

Being retired doesn't wipe out all commitments, every morning regardless of weather conditions we have to tend to the horses and you are not allowed to have a sickie. We get ready and leave about eleven for a short drive to the horses which takes about one hour to feed them, remove or change rugs and other assorted chores like moving bails of hay and bags of feed etc. After this we often do a bit of shopping and some days have to visit the older kids place to check on her dog, a long haired German shepherd.

Anyway, when we do get home I am free to do as I please for the rest of the day. Depending upon the weather, my mood and energy level I might stay inside or venture out to the workshop or potter around outside in which case the chooks are very interested in what I might do, in particular weeding the garden beds - LOL

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Super good news

Checked the post box today and something from the family accountants?

A cheque from the ATO for $2500 – finally. This is for two super co-contributions that I put into our SMSF for ET – the wife.

I posted about this 12 months ago, the first contribution of $1000 was three years ago when the govt. was offering $1.50 for every $1.00 put into super up to $1000 for people below a certain income level, that’s $1500. With Labour having spent all the surplus Wayne Swan started his penny pinching crusade and the co-contribution was reduced to a dollar for a dollar which amounts  to $1000 –that adds up to $2500.

The exact amount is actually $2500.01, yep…two thousand and five hundred dollars and one cent.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

More Pixie damage

Returned home Friday afternoon after a visit to the Vet with the cats.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Friday, June 10, 2011

ALDI: Bought a few items

No particular immediate need for any of them, just stocking up the work shop.



Pipe Wrench or Bolt Cutter $ 14.99
  • Choose from 450mm Bolt Cutter with drop forged steel blades or
  • 1.5” Pipe Wrench with inductive hardened teeth

Another new toy for kitties.