I did the same at almost 55. It will be tomorrow morning when you wake up when it kicks in. there isn't a person on this earth that could wipe the fuc*ing smile off my face. Enjoy it's fab.
Re: why is he a jammy bastad then ? I am actually delighted for the guy. You may not have appreciated the 'jokey' manner of my post. In an attempt to confirm the humor I put the now obligatory 'smiley face'. To be called a 'muppet' is a little confusing as the muppets are highly successful. I therefore assume that you mean it as a term of endearment, Thanks ! ( that means I am being lighthearted)
Enjoy pal, I finished Christmas 2005 aged 56, one of the best days of my life, I used to really enjoy work at one time but got fed up with a continueous stream of top bosses trying to reinvent the wheel. I can honestly say that despite being a true reds fan I have enjoyed every day. I feel sorry for those who retire and miss work, but I was lucky in as much as my grandson was born 3 months after I finished and when his mum went back to work I looked after him 3 days a week, my wife still worked so it was me and him, as I virtually missed my son growing up due working 7 days a week for years on end, I had the time to give him my undevided attention, wonderful. You are obviously a very clever person looking at your cv so I doubt you will get bored, and thats the answer, find something you enjoy and get stuck in. Good luck and enjoy your retirement, like me, you are one of the lucky ones that get to enjoy life a bit before old age lays us low.