Life is different this week. As of yesterday I am unemployed. My association with Lilly ended on May31st after 35 and a half years. In better times there would have been a retirement event with speeches, toasts and retirement gifts. But the Erl Wood Research Centre is gone, the site sold and my colleagues scattered to the four winds. That is sad; a lot of great work was done there by good scientists.
The reason for this is good news; Lilly’s insurers have determined that I am fit to return to work. A significant improvement from where I was 4 years ago and it should help with getting travel insurance, but there is no job for me. Accordingly I have taken the pension, but also rebuilt my CV and sent it out for a couple of jobs. After all I have 40 yrs experience as a lab-based scientist and you can’t buy that (though the “not worked for 5 years” thing may count against me).
In other news – we still own my mother’s house and I hope it will be sold by the end of the month. It is now empty but our house is full. We have wardrobes – if anyone wants one please get in touch.
We are both now doubly vaccinated and starting venture out seeing people – small steps back to a normal life.
The sequel to Shadows of Faerie is advancing slowly, the first draft currently stands at 66k words.
martinowton 
Here’s to a new beginning. And you are right — 40 years of experience as a scientist is of huge value. Someone will see it. Wish I was closer — we’ve been looking for a wardrobe. Shipping might be a bit of an issue though.
Onwards and upwards Martin!