Sneezing in the loft

One of the first "jobs" on Barbara's list is the loft so on Monday morning, we put the dustsheets down and up I went. Barbara is none to keen on getting on and off the ladder so she received down below. I had a mask on but I should have worn some goggles too as the dust really got to me and I was soon in a right state. However, we carried on and managed to take two loads up the tip for disposal in the various receptacles. There was a lot of packaging from various bits of equipment we have accumulated over the years plus there was stuff from years gone by. I found some letters from a voyage over 22 years ago. A bit like this, I did, and do, write some crap. There were one or two ships photographs and other ship related junk as well. I reckon there are another couple of loads to go to the tip but enough was enough and we called a halt in mid afternoon. Well I am retired..
I mention the ship photographs because another thing I have started since retirement is posting on a forum. The site is called Ships Nostalgia. I am not at all nostalgic for ships but it seemed a good place to talk to like minded people. Fantastically, I received a private message over the weekend from John a Catering Officer I sailed with several times. It was delightful to catch up with him and find out what he has been doing over the last 15 years since I last sailed with him.
The weather has been awful so we haven't ventured out much. I have taken the chance to phone my pension administrators. I reckon it could be June before I start getting anything from them but that doesn't stop me trying to shake them up. I want to get everything clear in my mind because I think I shall contact my previous employers and let them know what has happened so that they can cut a few corners when other people come up to retirement. Seems bloody silly that I have to wait until I am paid for three days at the end of this month before anything can be worked out. The administrators have to then wait to make sure the money is forthcoming before they can go ahead. I will also draw the unions attention to it at the pension forum I attend tomorrow.