I am retiring at the end of this month - March 2017

Well, I appear to have made it around to another birthday and I have decided to 'call it a day' - I am retiring at the end of this month.

I started to wind down this time last year but it is difficult to just stop, especially when many of my clients are also friends - forged through many discussions about how best to implement certain systems and having many a bust up - all of which ended amicably.

Having been a mechanical engineering apprentice who progressed to be a manufacturing engineer I specialised in CNC machining centres and robotics (yes you younger ones out there, we had computers back in the 70's!). I taught at college for a couple of years before becoming a trainer/consultant/auditor in 1990 and having worked for other organisations for a few years I set out on my own in 2006 and have loved (mostly) my time working for myself.

They say all good things come to an end so now is as good a time as any to give others the opportunity to sit in the driving seat.

I suspect I will still be around the Cove for a few years to come and I would like to thank you all for allowing me to express my opinions on the many subjects that we have interacted on and for the opportunity to learn from such a knowledgeable group of people.

It has been wonderful having you around and hope you stop by now and again. You posted here almost 1,500 times over the last 10 years - Helping people, without pay other than the appreciation of many. Thank you! From myself and all the many others.

If you're like me you'll look back over the many years with fond memories. Good and bad. All my 8mm videos went to VHS and now .mp4 files. Many, many still photos scanned. Now and again I pull out the originals. Sometimes I just browse through my computer files. I had an interesting "memory lane" instance - Long story, but I had to produce all my passports from over the years. I stared as a thin, young 14 year old in my first passport (the big green ones). Some school in England and France, Youth Hosteling around Europe on trains and bicycle. And all the intervening passports are kind of a procession to my current one - From youth to a somewhat old looking man.

I will say that I don't look at it as all good things coming to an end. Rather, I see it as phases, changes if you will, over my life time. You're just entering another phase of your life.

I wish you well and please know that you are always welcome here.

Colin said:

I suspect I will still be around the Cove for a few years to come and I would like to thank you all for allowing me to express my opinions on the many subjects that we have interacted on and for the opportunity to learn from such a knowledgeable group of people.

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You are a great contributor to The Cove. With some additional spare time in your hands, you might even be more active here, who knows?

Wishing you peace of mind in your new phase.

I saw a falling star while driving home from a job in Savannah on Thursday, and wished upon it ... bought my Powerball ticket today to see if it comes true. That's pretty much what it would take for me to retire.

In either case, I would not be able to resist coming here, and I hope you won't either.

Colin, thank you for your contribution here at the Cove. Your posts have helped me and other Covers; it is very much appreciated. Come, see us once in a while

Wishing you good health, and much happiness and an enjoyable retired life.

Thank you so much for all your help and for sharing with us the well-spring of knowledge. I wish you the best of luck and good health and God-given blessings in the years to come.

Congratulations Colin with your decision.
Please stick around here, we've lost too many knowledgeable Participants.

All the best!

Have you considered cutting back instead of retiring? That's what i intend to do. Probably in stages like 1/4 then 1/2 then 3/4 then finally all the way. I would get bored really fast without something to do.

Big Jim said:

Have you considered cutting back instead of retiring? That's what i intend to do. Probably in stages like 1/4 then 1/2 then 3/4 then finally all the way. I would get bored really fast without something to do.

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I guess that is what I have been doing for the past year when I first considered retirement. I have done around half the number of 'payed days' during the last 12 months compared to before. The hardest thing I have found is to say 'no' to work! Having spent the last 30 or so years trying to generate work, I find it very difficult to walk away from - so I have 'cherry picked ' the jobs I do i.e. close to home and working with people that show some interest in what the management system is really for.

As for being bored, I have taken up fly fishing (always been a fisherman but never 'chucked fluff' before), I am trying to play the keyboard (just a little) and I intend playing more golf.

I am also visiting New York in May this year. Flying out and cruising back on the Queen Mary II. I have been to the US many times but not for 15 years or so and never to NY.

Please do stay around, Colin. As the others have already mentioned, your input has been very appreciated over the years, and surely you would be bored stiff without us?