The story so far

So how has all this come about and why have my beautiful wife and I decided to embark on our own Greek Odyssey?


First off, I'm retiring! I'm in a very fortunate position that after 30 years as a front line "emergency service worker" I'm reaching the point where I will have completed my service to the public and can finish.
As most people would, I had always planned to take some time out and go on holiday and had thought about where and what I wanted to do. I'd thought about the usual retirement splurges - cruises, luxury all inclusive hotels, touring the States or Australia but don't fancy anything like that (at the minute!)So what did appeal to me and what was on my wishlist?

After 30 years of shift work at the "sharp end", long antisocial hours and putting up with terrible English weather I wanted

• Really nice weather where every day the sun's going to be shining and the climates great
• Handy to get to from the UK
• Outside space to relax and explore
• Days spent at the beach swimming and chilling out
• Evenings in nice bars and restaurants enjoying local food
• Spending time with my wife and kids enjoying my retirement  

Can you see what it is yet?


Yes the beautiful Greek island of Rhodes.

time to go

Without a doubt the first question people in my line of work ask when greeting each other is "how long have you got left to do?"
Its a bit weird really because I'm sure some of the people I've dealt with over the last 30 years ask each other the same question but in an entirely different context and in a lot less pleasant environment!

Anyway after much mutual cursing and laughing at the answer - which varies according to whether the answer is in years, months, weeks or days - usually the next question asked is "got any plans for when you're finished?". At first my answer was "nothing really, just catch my breath and relax" which then developed into "probably a nice holiday with the wife and treat the kids".  As the time left began to decrease it seemed the plans began to increase and became "I might go to Greece for a couple of months, rent somewhere and chill out."

Now when I get asked those regular two questions my first answer is now in weeks or days followed by

"We're moving to Rhodes for six months, renting a villa on a beach that sleeps 12 people and working as a holiday rep for a major tour operator."   

After incredulous and confused looks, responses of "Eh?" I then explain (with hopefully not too much smugness) the story of how - what was at a first a dream, became a notion, then an idea, followed by a plan with more ideas and more plans and is now definitely a reality.