John Pilgrim – It’s a difficult task coming to terms with the things that I can’t do

It was while I was driving the car that I had the idea that launched me into a new career and over 15 years broadcasting and producing with the BBC.

These days I amuse myself by spotting the various stickers in the back of people’s motors as I sit at the traffic lights . Most times they can raise a mild smile but I saw one the other day that read ‘A dog is for life unlike a husband’.

Anyway now that I’ve got that off my chest can anyone tell me exactly what Peter Andre does?

I am these days reduced to spending some time reading exactly what there is to watch on TV and Mr Andre’s name keeps coming up – but I still don’t know what he does for a living other than talk about himself. Since I have seen photographs of him in magazines at the doctor’s surgery, the dentist’s and the barber’s I am not inclined to watch his TV programmes.

Despite all that, life in retirement does keep me busy. After a check to see if there is any cricket on the telly, I take the dog for a walk and because there are no seats in the park I use one of the kids’ swings as a place my bottom (don’t tell the council, I’m sure it must be against local rules). That way I can rest my weary old bones and still give the Spaniel some exercise.

One of my favourite pastimes is to sit in the sunshine with a glass of wine and decide on what I am going to do tomorrow. Then I make a list and tomorrow I will erase the items that I have completed. Sadly the list grows longer thanks to the still outstanding jobs column.

Then I decide to take matters in hand, get an estimate for decorating inside the house, employ someone to help with the garden and maybe check out the local dog walking service.

It can be done but the real problem is coming to terms with the fact that I can no longer do these things myself.

All is not lost though dear reader, I still don’t need any help with the white wine or watching cricket!

There again I might consider employing a butler to open the wine bottle and change the channels what do you think?