Charles Lamb

In 1825, after thirty-six years of hard work - one more than yours truly- the English writer Charles Lamb wrote a brilliant essay entitled The Superannuated Man. For me, the most striking line and the one that epitomizes the freedom my retirement has given me is: I walk about; not to and from. On my daily ramblings throughout our town and surrounding countryside, I am the embodiment of Lamb's observation and, like him, I can't help but take - especially when I pass a school - a certain pleasure at hearing my ex-colleagues still embroiled in the prolixity of long division; the proper usage of there, their and they're