George retires

Yesterday, they had a retirement party for George at the boatyard next door. George was the first employee when Ralph started the yard 30 odd years ago. He was therefore the foreman and also a part owner. Since then, the yard has grown into a multimillion dollar business with dozens of employees, but George, although he's always been the 'foreman', has never really been a manager. He just likes to mess around with boats, and never let himself get eased behind a desk.

George is a couple of years older than I am, and probably wouldn't be retiring, accept that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimers. He was really not up to staying on. Meanwhile, his youngest daughter, my daugther's contemporary, is undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with Hodgkins disease. All in all, not the happiest circumstances for a party.

Yet his daughter is on the road to recovery, and Alzheimers is beginning to give up its secrets. Hopefully, George and his family have many happy years ahead.