Enjoying retirement in the Forest of Dean

I find I am enjoying retirement in the Forest of Dean more every day. Being retired does not mean doing nothing, it means filling your days with things you enjoy. I always like to put something back into the community and here are some of the things I am involved with at the moment.

Volunteering

There are quite a number of volunteering opportunities here in Cinderford and in the Forest of dean. I am a volunteer driver with Lydcare community transport,  a fantastic organisation Drivers use their own car to take people to hospital appointments and shopping trips as well as picking up prescriptions. Dial a ride charge 50p a mile and give 45p a mile to the driver to help with expenses so it is hugely cheaper than taking a taxi and there is often no bus available . Many of the clients are also disabled or elderly. I enjoy it a lot and it is really nice to meet new people that you would not normally come across and have a nice chat in the car on the journey. Drivers must have an advanced  DBS check before they can join.

I have also applied for a volunteers job with Gloucestershire Police. Despite having an advanced  DBS certificate there is a strict vetting procedure to go through so I am waiting for this. Update, I have passed this and am now driving for Gloucestershire Police.

I also enjoy keeping our Forest of Dean Events Calendar updated. As far as I know this is the only place on the web that you can find events from all over the web

I have just made a free website for the community in Ruardean  – https://ruardeancommunity.uk/

Another good thing about moving to the Forest of Dean is fulfilling a life time ambition to have a log wood burner. In the winter it is lovely.

Gardening.

I spend a fair bit of time in my garden and grow as much vegetables as there is space for. I am a big fan of Growing vegetables in containers as regular readers will know. Keeping active seems to be the key to a feeling of well being.