Riotous Retirement Read Online Free PDF

around at the others who were also sitting in small groups. She could see one group playing cards. Probably a family waiting for someone they had taken in for some specialist treatment. And everyone seemed to be enjoying a tea break.
    Excellent service she thought, and most unusual for a medical practice waiting room. Well it’s new and they’ll be concentrating on building up the practice—that will be the reason.
    Emily had waited a considerable period and so the next time she was able to attract an attendant’s attention she put her hand on the attendant’s arm.
    “Look, excuse me,” she said, “I’ve just come in to pay a bill for the physiotherapy I had last week and …” but this attendant also just smiled and completely ignored what she had said.
    “Perhaps you would like to join the carpet bowls?” she asked.
    “I beg your pardon?” Emily responded politely as she glanced around, and yes, there was certainly a group playing carpet bowls at the other side of the room.
    “No, no, I can’t join the bowls today but perhaps another time. I live at Burnside retirement village, you see, and I’ve come here to pay my bill.”
    “Don’t worry dear,” said the attendant, “you just put your money back in your purse. This won’t cost you anything today.”
    Now Emily hated any conflict but much against her grain she decided there and then to take some firmer action. This was getting ridiculous. Just as she started to move over to the counter intending to ask for the person in charge, everyone responded to an announcement over the loud speaker—“Could everyone now move outside and board the bus please.”
    There was no longer anyone behind the counter so Emily had no option but to move outside with everyone else where, to her amazement, they were all getting aboard a large bus. In large lettering the sign on the bus said—ST. ANDREWS RESPITE CENTRE.
    “Bloody hell!” she said quietly to herself. 
    Paying the Medical Bill
    The modern little gadget that travels in your car
Says turn left - turn right and knows just where you are
You are the one in charge to tell it where you want to go
Otherwise strangers you will meet – not the folk you know
Emily take the challenge - learn it well - you’ll be a star

    The Taxi Service

    The local hotel, complete with its pub, was very conveniently located for some residents because it backed onto the grounds of Burnside Retirement Village at the far side of the visitor car park. All village residents could, of course, avail themselves of the services at Burnside club bar situated in a corner of the village leisure centre and lounge, but a few residents also enjoyed going to the local pub for a drink because it was so close and because there you also met local people who were not residents of the village.
    “I love it,” Bill would tell any other resident who asked why he went there instead of the club bar, “it’s like going outside the village without even going outside the village if you know what I mean.”
    Every second week, on pension Thursday, Bill would shuffle up the road to the pub. He was able to get to the back door of the pub through a small gate at the end of a path connecting with the village car park. Bill enjoyed a few drinks and socialising with other people. Everyone knew where Bill was and exactly what he was doing at this time. He would meet the same men and a couple of women who lived near the village every second Thursday. Similar topics would be discussed and the same people would occupy the same places at the bar. This lack of variety bothered no one. All in the group treasured the familiarity and comfort in the arrangement. They all paid for their own drinks. There was no pretence of generosity while simultaneously keeping tabs on who is due to pay for the next round! They were all well past that game. The behaviour of each individual in this group varied little from fortnight to fortnight as they drank their usual tipple.
    They