Riotous Retirement Read Online Free PDF Page A

astute couples, who may decide to settle at Burnside Village—including Brenda Bovary, despite the Freeloader Family!
    Open Day
    This day is viewed by staff with dread
Helga’s planning is done well ahead
Doing business without being rude
While keeping “Free Loaders” away from food
Duties for “ SELLING ” were evenly spread

    Paying the Medical Bill

    Mrs. Emily Campbell, recently widowed, bought a small unit in the Burnside Retirement Village. Her aim in life was to become more independent and less reliant on her children than she had been since her husband died. She was sure that if she lived in a smaller and more convenient home in a friendly atmosphere, as the Burnside village appeared to have, then she could manage well on her own.
    Emily was looking for somewhere new, somewhere to start again, to make new friends and to enjoy this next chapter in life. It was not easy for her but this is what she truly believed she had to do, to be able to live her future life.
    She had visited the village several times before settling on this particular villa and had even been invited to and participated in an organised dinner evening for all residents. Her potential future neighbour, Mrs. Milne, had invited her. Emily had enjoyed the evening and the company of the residents many of whom, like her, were widows.
    As Mrs. Milne had said, “Much better if you look after yourself in this life than rely too much on others. I think you will make a great neighbour!”
    So in due course Emily moved in and as Mrs. Milne had predicted they became very good friends.
    Emily’s intention to be independent was sorely tested in the first few weeks in her new home. She drove a car, but the problem was that the area surrounding Burnside was completely new to her. Her eldest son had insisted she get herself an automated car navigation device but she didn’t like it much.
    Emily would joke to her new friends, “I hate it. I’m never sure if I have it set right, I hate the voice and besides, the roads I drive on are pretty, with trees, beautiful gardens and they go uphill and down again but all the roads on the machine are flat and really ugly. Sometimes I think we must be in different places!”
    Emily’s second visit to her new doctor’s office was a very interesting adventure. She knew roughly where to go but she also set her new navigating device—just to test it out as it were. Emily was on this journey because she had to pay an outstanding bill. It wasn’t that she had to go there in person because she could have posted a cheque but she chose to go, to get used to the surrounding area and the services she was likely to use. She could also spend some time browsing in the local shops she thought.
    Emily parked the car and entered the reception area that she had visited once before. She glanced around, taking in the pattern on the carpet, the furniture and the staff uniforms. Well, she thought to herself, I made it, although it is larger than I remember. Funny how your memory plays tricks on you!
    For the first few seconds Emily just stood there, taking in her surroundings, noting the counter and receptionists, but before she had decided where the end of the queue was she was asked by this very friendly person if she would prefer tea or coffee and encouraged to take a seat. Being the polite person that she was, Emily responded in a similarly convivial and friendly manner. After all she was in no particular hurry.
    “I’ll have a tea, thank you, white and no sugar. This is nice.”
    As she was being served the tea together with a plate and two biscuits, Emily tried to explain.
    “I’ve come to pay a medical bill,” said Emily to the girl who brought the tea: but the young girl just smiled politely without responding to Emily’s statement and was gone as quickly as she appeared.
    My goodness, they’re all very busy, she thought to herself, better just be patient and wait.  So she sipped her tea and ate her biscuits and looked