Who am I?

An individual, of no great importance, who is unable to see the natural world as a place for competition. I catch fish, watch birds, derive immense pleasure from simply looking at butterflies, moths, bumble-bees, etc - without the need for rules! I am Dylan and this is my blog - if my opinions offend? Don't bother logging on again - simple!

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Saturday 10 April 2021

The beginning of a new chapter

I retired yesterday, walking away from the best work experience I've ever been part of. If my time with Unilever was a superb adventure, Fuji took it a step further, allowing me to be part of an unfolding journey of, pushing boundaries beyond what was previously thought possible? The group of individuals that make up the "digital dept" of FSIS are a wonderful bunch of people who've played a massive role during my time within the company. I sincerely thank each and every one of them for the part they've played in my enjoyment of the time spent at Pyson's Road.  


Chiffchaff in the "Christmas Tree" right outside my study window

It's now time for me to move on and look for new challenges. Fish to catch, birds to watch, places to go and people to see. Bev and I have quite a "wish list" that we'd like to achieve before we're too old! So watch this space. The BWKm0 list has been stuck at 53 species for the past seventeen days, so it was a nice surprise to hear two Willow Warblers singing from an adjacent garden, as I filled the feeders this morning. Once I'd finished, I grabbed the camera and managed to get a few images of one of the birds feeding in our garden Elder before the pair of them were off, north, along the gardens. Very few signs of migration around Newlands, just a trickle of Chiffchaffs and four Blackcaps for me, thus far. It will all change now that work won't get in the way.



No. 54 - Willow Warbler

8 comments:

  1. enjoy yourself you earned it no doubt i catch up soon

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    1. Thanks Mark - see you around somewhere, or other? - Dyl

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  2. Am I jealous... just a bit but I wish you all the luck with all your free time, fishing, birding, holidays etc. I'm welling up just typing this. All the best Dyl, you only live once, enjoy.

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    1. Hi Marc, cheers for your kind thoughts, much appreciated. I am only too aware that this life is not a practice run for the next. Whatever happens next I am looking forward, not back, as the road in front is an awful lot shorter than the one behind! Take care & stay safe - Dyl

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  3. Congratulations Dyl. Welcome to total freedom. Not always easy to adapt to after a lifetime of work. I'm sure you'll fill the time in a totally productive manner. Open ended plans and no limits beyond your own. Good luck.

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    1. Cheers Ric - I will do my best to keep game-fully employed in whatever activity takes my fancy as the time passes. Total freedom? Not too sure about that one - Bev has a list like a bloody phone-book of jobs to be done. - Dyl

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  4. Dylan, Your life is now properly beginning, doing what you want to do, in your time and not being dictated by work hours stealing valuable personal time, You will certainly have revelations with your birding and fishing now that you are in the driving seat.
    I will be retiring in December, I have so much to do and to achieve , hopefully enough time to satiate my appetite for my fishing pursuits and goals.
    Happy retirement...stay safe and Enjoy!!!!

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    1. Hi Phil, It will be a nice change to be able to make plans, based upon weather conditions, rather than having to seek gaps in the holiday rota. At the moment I'm just looking at getting the syndicate carp search underway. I've got three sessions booked for the coming week. These will be more about learning the fishery rather than a serious attempt at catching a fish. However, I'm not simply going down there to go through the motions and would be very happy to get that, all important, first bite. I have also been told of a decent stamp of roach being present in the same fishery, so will have no problem fishing a third rod for these unknown fish.
      Hoping that our paths will cross, once the pandemic restrictions allow? Take care & tight lines - Dylan

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