Posts

Making the Most of a Vanishing Future

-
Image
  Making the Most of a Vanishing Future Tony Coe, co-host of Refinement NOT retirement podcast. By Sujit kumar - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6977027 I like to think about our new podcast as TALKING THERAPY FOR RETIREES , which I know sounds a bit like we might be portraying ourselves as therapists but, no, that’s NOT what I’m trying to say. I don’t know about you, but I find that the process of TALKING THINGS THROUGH WITH OTHERS helps me sort out my own thoughts.  For me, it’s a THERAPEUTIC process, which helps me a lot. Christine and I only quit our business a few months ago, and it’s a business that was OUR LIFE for decades! We are now adjusting to a new phase of our lives; and we’re learning all the time. So we are just as much in need of this TALKING THERAPY as anybody else. In this episode , join me as I dive into the concept of time, mortality, and the urgency to embrace the present moment. As Christine and I recently bid farewell to
Post a Comment
Read more

Air Source Heat Pump, dream or NIGHTMARE?

-
Image
  When they moved to the Cotswolds countryside, Tony and Christine found their ideal home, but it had an Air Source Heat Pump, something they had zero experience of. In this episode, they share their experience of living with one. Was it a dream or a NIGHTMARE? Tony Coe, Podcaster in Refinement When Christine and I headed for The Cotswolds hills after COVID hit, the furthest things from our minds were air source heat pumps. Nature told us it was time to leave Central London, our home and business location for many decades, and head out to the sanctuary of the countryside.   Listen to this episode: Escaping to the Country was a BIG refinement! I LOVED everything about the house we found in The Cotswolds, except one, the heating system.  Christine LOVED everything and wanted to buy it straight away.   But I said, “ Hold your horses, sweetheart!  I’ve heard bad things about these bloody Air Source Heat Pumps. I’m not sure they work! Let me do some research, hun! ” I’d been in the propert
Post a Comment
Read more

We visit Crete and its former leper colony!

-
Image
Christine and Tony visit Crete and Spinalonga   The latest episode of our podcast provides a Silver Power Review of: Domes of Elounda, the 5-star resort where we stayed Vicotoria Hislop's fabulous novel about Spinalonga, The Island Visiting Crete as vegans We hope you enjoying it.  Meanwhile, below is some background info on Spinalonga. Spinalonga: A Historical Enclave of Resilience and Isolation Introduction: Hidden within the Aegean Sea lies an island with a haunting past, Spinalonga. Located off the coast of Crete, this tiny landmass has witnessed a unique chapter in human history as a leper colony. In this article, we delve into the history of Spinalonga, shedding light on the disease and the reasons for exiling afflicted individuals to the island. Additionally, we explore the impact of Victoria Hislop's book, "The Island," on Greek authorities, citizens, and tourism. Understanding Leprosy: Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic infectious cond
Post a Comment
Read more

PICKLEBALL HAS ARRIVED IN THE COTSWOLDS

-
Image
PICKLEBALL IN THE COTSWOLDS Hi, this is Tony Coe again with the Refinement NOT retirement podcast.  Today I want to talk about Pickleball, the fabulous sport with a quirky name that has brought enormous joy to our lives. Pickleball has taken the USA by storm in the past decade.  This new sport’s growth rate in America has been phenomenal, and now it’s spreading like wildfire in the UK and across Europe too. It's even arrived in rural England, in an "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" called The Cotswolds. Imagine a sport that combines the best parts of tennis, badminton and table tennis - that’s pickleball in a nutshell.  If you like any of those sports, you’ll likely take to pickleball like a duck to water!  It’s a game that doesn’t take long to pick up - and it’s far less physically demanding than tennis.  Best of all, older people can defeat young’uns with guile because there’s a lot of strategy and finesse involved. This means it’s a fantastic, cross-generational s
Post a Comment
Location: Elmley Castle, Pershore WR10, UK
Read more

Time to abolish the UK Monarchy?

-
Image
  THE CORONATION OF KING CHARLES III Isn’t it time to abolish the UK monarchy? Hello everyone.  This is Tony Coe from the Refinement NOT retirement podcast.  On the eve of the coronation of King Charles III, Christine and I published a podcast episode.  We asked the question, is it time to ABOLISH the monarchy? Image by Katie Chan I should state my own position clearly: all my life I’ve found it difficult to understand why we still support an institution and a figurehead that historically oppressed, abused and stole from the people it presumed to RULE-OVER. To my mind, the coronation of Charles III was a costly extravagant show of pomp and ceremony that is outdated and elitist.  In my view (which I accept may still be a minority opinion) this type of lavish, wasteful ritual, along with the monarchy itself, should be abolished in favour of a modern, democratic system.   While holding that view, I still want to hear and consider arguments that are counter to my position, so please don’t
Post a Comment
Read more

Watch Out for our Silver Power Reviews!

-
Image
Hello there.  This is Tony and Christine again, co-hosts of the Refinement NOT retirement podcast , and we have a Silver Power Message for you today! ( See Tony's video on YouTube )
Post a Comment
Read more

The Gift of this Golden Time of Life

-
Image
  Reflections on the Gift of Golden Time Hello, it's Tony again, and I've been thinking about my evolving position on this latter phase of my and Christine's life together.  As you may know, we recently quit our business life, and it's been a journey of learning and discovery ever since - for me more so than Christine - and it continues to be so every day. The Precious Present One thing I've learned is that I certainly don't have all the answers. I'm constantly learning more about how to make the most of the gift of time that this new phase of life has given us. I've come to appreciate that Christine and I have different perspectives. She’s very much an "in the moment" person who wears her heart on her sleeve and instinctively knows how to enjoy THE PRECIOUS PRESENT, while I tend to overthink things. Quitting work has given us the opportunity to find a balance that works for both of us. Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash That's why we sta
Post a Comment
Read more