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Following the Easter weekend where my priority was to get some order to my gardens.

Lawns mowed, patio and barbecue clean and ready to go.

This weekend was supposed to be a visit to one of my favourite destinations Bath.

However disaster struck this week, I had a full week of client visits booked for my business advisory service.

3 Post’s already to go for Ropho – Tuesday morning site, crashed.

Managed to post in the evening however, page speed has nose dived this week.

As previously explained, I am learning as I go, this is my not giving up, part of starting something new and learning a new skill,.

I could easily ask one of my friends, several are web designers, but for me this is part of the process.

Once I have reached my goals for reader numbers etc, I will employ someone to maintain the site.

However until then I appreciate my current readers patience and hope this helps to inspire some of you not to give up or accept defeat and take the easy route.

Today I will hopefully get the site back up to speed.

So next week will be a visit to Bath and surrounding areas, tomorrow I will plan another couple of long weekends for the rest of April and May.

What examples do you have of not giving up in your 60’s or 70’s.

Please let me know, hearing your stories motivates me to keep going, even when it gets tough.

A Couple of my Favourite UK Weekend Break Destinations

So as we plan for our weekend breaks in May, I have listed a few of my favourites

York, North Yorkshire

York is truly one of my favourite cities, maybe because it has such a rich history in one of my forbidden pleasures. Chocolate!

And what a history it is, while other Northern UK cities built their wealth on coal, steel, or wool,.

York built its fame on chocolate. For nearly 300 years, the city has been the UK’s confectionery capital, home to global icons like the KitKat and the Terrys Chocolate Orange. 

York Minster – One of the world’s largest and most magnificent Gothic cathedrals, featuring incredible stained glass and stone architecture.

The City Walls – As the longest medieval town walls in England, you can walk a 3.4km circuit for scenic views.

The Shambles: A beautifully preserved medieval street with overhanging timber-framed buildings, frequently cited as one of the prettiest streets in Britain.

Viking & Roman Heritage – Explore the city’s roots at the immersive JORVIK Viking Centre and discover remnants of a Roman fortress

The River Ouse runs through the city, offering relaxing boat trips and picturesque riverside walks.

Proximity to Nature – What makes York such a great place for a long weekend is its location near both the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors national parks.

Independent Shopping & Dining: A vast array of independent boutiques, tea rooms (like Bettys), and local pubs. 

Another destination which is one of my favourite long weekend getaways is Cornwall which has many gems.

St Ives and Mousehole are two of my favourites and are relatively close together.

The Vibe: St Ives – Turquoise water and world-class art.

What’s new: The Tate St Ives has some incredible 2026 exhibitions focused on coastal light.

Mousehole, Cornwall

The Vibe: The “prettiest village in England.”

What’s new: It remains the ultimate retreat for 2026, with the Mousehole Rock Pool being a top spot for a chilly “wild swim.”

The Lake District, Cumbria is an obvious choice for a long weekend with many different destinations.

Key Areas & Lakes

• Keswick & Derwentwater – The “Queen of the Lakes” and the northern hub for hikers. It’s the base for the Mountain Festival and the famous Catbells climb.

• Windermere – The largest natural lake in England. Bowness-on-Windermere is the most popular tourist town, offering iconic steamer boat cruises.

• Ullswater – Often cited as the most beautiful lake, home to the Aira Force waterfall and the heritage “Steamers.”

• Grasmere – The heart of the “Poet’s District,” where you can visit Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage and buy world-famous Grasmere Gingerbread.

The Vibe: Epic fells and literary inspiration.

What’s new: In 2026, the Keswick Mountain Festival (May 15-17) is expected to be the biggest yet.

I am always looking for ideas, for new long weekend destinations, please do not hesitate to let me know your favourites.

Don’t miss tomorrow’s latest instalment Week 3.

How to run a business after 60

Dreams and Vision: The First Step in Building a Business

Business After 60: Week 2 of 8 | The Map to Your Dream

I didn’t intend to write a post today, as this being a Monday bank holiday.

My next instalment of building or reviving a business series for over 60s.

Will be posted tomorrow, when hopefully our thoughts will have turned from holiday mode into how, can I make some money mode and still enjoy myself in my sixties.

I felt compelled to write this post because of a sporting event and a developing rivalry with my 11 year old grandson.

If you have been following my story you may know I love sport and love following Southampton FC.

With all the emotional ups and downs following your favourite sports team brings.

Supporting Southampton FC Love, Loyalty and Lifelong Suffering

Which brings me to this Saturday evening when I sat down with a lovely glass of Rioja by my side.

Ready to watch Southampton take on Arsenal in the quarter finals of the FA cup.

The Emotional Rollercoaster of a Sports Fan

I am like a lot of people I know, a curious mixture of optimism and pessimism.

The type laced with hope and fear, sheer joy when your team scores the first goal, makes that early try or the batsman takes the fast bowler to the cleaners in the opening couple of overs.

Only for that veil of pessimism to slowly draw over you and create a feeling of impending doom.

“That’s it we will sit back make a self inflicted mistake they will sore then we will get hammered.”

“The batsman is going to get carried away, and will nick the ball to first slip.” etc, etc.

Well for some unknown totally irrational reason I had a feeling we could create an upset and beat the Premier league leaders.

A House Divided: Southampton vs Arsenal

What made this even more interesting than usual, my 11 year old grandson is an Arsenal fan.

We actually now live in close proximity to arsenal’s training ground.

I have always made a thing with him, that you should if possible support your local team, and as his dad is a North Londoner who supports Arsenal it was inevitable that he would follow that path.

I also made it very clear, it is an unbreakable rule that once you’ve made that decision you have to support them through thick or thin.

So to the match.

The match started reasonably from my point of view.

Arsenal whilst creating a bit more than us, weren’t making me that worried, and we indeed had a couple of clear chances.

When Support Turns to Rivalry

In the 35th Southampton scored the first goal, my phone rang it was my grandson, I was going a little crazy with happiness.

” Ha lucky goal” says grandson, don’t worry we will equalise soon and beat you 3-1.

Now that’s it!

For once I didn’t have that veil of impeding doom coming over me, it was something quite different.

A stirring feeling of rivalry that felt a bit strange.

This is the boy, that, every Sunday for the last four years I have been getting up early to take him to watch him play.

In all weathers shouting encouragement at him, delighting when he makes a great tackle or goes on a marauding run down the wing.

Well I must say this was totally different no we are going to win.

Even when arsenal equalised I felt sure we would win, and sure enough in the 85th minute we scored the winning goal.

My grandson had gone quiet and ignored my phone call.

The Beauty of the Game (and the Banter)

So it’s begun, he came to our house for the traditional family Easter lunch.

I started to tease, him or do I thought, I don’t want to upset him.

Then he said he wasn’t upset because it was only the FA cup and Arsenal were going to win the premier league and champions league anyway.

So maybe the rivalry is only building in my head because Southampton aren’t a threat, as he sees it.

But this just shows how fantastic following a team is.

Grandad and grandson are both happy and very optimistic for now,.

Or though you know the inevitable losses will come at some point in the future.

But it just doesn’t matter because this weekend has been a great weekend.

Next week back to shouting encouragement to grandson.

Sport, wow fantastic.

Now to finish that gardening I promised to do at the start of the weekend.

Let me know if you are ever unexpectedly happy or unhappy at sports events, or is there something else that makes you glad to be alive, all comments are very welcome.

“That same spirit of ‘irrational optimism’ I felt during the match?

It’s exactly what we need when starting a new venture.

Tune in tomorrow for the next instalment of my business series for the over 60s!”

“Easter Bank Holiday Balance”

“The plan was to be knee-deep in moss and lawn clippings by now, but the British weather has other ideas.

So, while I wait for the patio to dry, I’m reflecting on a great Hampshire find and prepping for the sun’s return…”

Before the garden chores called, we spent last weekend in Hampshire for a baby shower, in the evening, we found ourselves at The Bugle in Hamble, and it hit that “sweet spot” I’m always looking for.

• The Vibe: Nautical, historic, and bustling.
• The “Yes—Sensibly” Choice: I stuck to the fresh local seafood. It was light, vibrant, and meant I had plenty of “calorie credit” left when the waiter started talking about the wine list.
• Verdict: 5/5 for service that feels friendly but professional. A proper “grown-up” pub.

The “Bank Holiday” First Cut

The sun is out, this weekend allegedly, although a look out the window, it’s cloudy oh well!, Saturday, Sunday shows promise according to the weather forecast.

“The plan was to be knee-deep in moss and lawn clippings by now, but the British weather has other ideas. So, while I wait for the patio to dry, I’m reflecting on a great Hampshire find and prepping for the sun’s return…”

If your lawn looks like mine, it’s currently a hay field.

• The Mistake: Scalping the grass. Don’t do it!
• The Fix: Set your mower to its highest setting. Think of it as a tidy-up rather than a transformation. You’ll save the grass from turning brown, and you’ll still clock up 5,000 steps before lunch.
• The Reward: Gardening counts as resistance training in my book. It’s the perfect excuse for a glass of something cold later.

The Friday Find: A Rioja Under £15

Since it’s a Bank Holiday, you need a “Safe Bet” bottle, doesn’t have to be a Merlot, I’ve just found this lovely Rioja.

• The Selection: Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva (Check your local supermarket—usually around £12-£14).
• The Vibe: It’s smooth, classic, and feels like a celebration.
• Coming Soon: Speaking of celebrations, I’ve just discovered a new favorite Italian restaurant in Shenley.
• It was the perfect “refuel” after a long walk this week. I’ll be sharing the full review, and whether their pasta passes the “Balance” test, very soon.

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“I’m always on the hunt for those hidden gems, the kind of place where the food is great but you can actually hear yourself think.

Have you found a local Italian or a proper food pub recently that’s worth the drive?

Drop me an email or leave a comment—I’d love to add it to my ‘Yes map!”

There’s a strange assumption about getting older, especially life after 60′ and it is that, somehow life becomes quieter, smaller and more predictable.

This week proved the exact opposite.

In the space of a few days I’ve gone from, looking forward to a relaxing weekend in Hampshire, catching up with family and friends, a baby shower, visiting a nice restaurant or two.

The plan included driving down to Winchester on Friday, having a nice lunch, and then booking into a nice hotel for a bit of me and Sharon time before meeting up with family on Saturday.

And if I’m honest!

It didn’t go to plan.

I had things I wanted to get done, posts I wanted finished earlier, a clearer structure in my head.

But life had other ideas, and maybe that’s the point.

Work and this website took over in a good way, extra meetings took place, website maintenance was required due to a significant increase in traffic which is fantastic.

It all meant that Friday had to be cancelled and instead take the trip from our home in Hertfordshire to Hampshire on Saturday instead.

Because what I realised this week is this:

Life after 60 isn’t quieter — it’s fuller.

It’s family, it’s memories, it’s still working things out, it’s still wanting to build something.

And it doesn’t neatly fit into a perfect plan anymore.

But here’s where it gets interesting, we spend years planning careers, families, businesses, finances etc.

Yet very few of us ever step back and plan this stage of life, we think we have, a retirement plan, then we get there or close to it and everything seems to change.

Or is that just me?

Starting to re-jig my plan, not rigidly, but intentionally.

Because if you don’t!

Life just fills the space for you.

This week wasn’t a mess.

It was a full life.

And maybe that’s the shift.

After 60 isn’t about slowing down.

It’s about choosing what matters
and making space for it.

Even when it doesn’t all go to plan.

Part of the weekend that will go to plan

Baby Shower

The main reason for travelling to Hampshire this weekend will be to attend my son and his partners baby shower

Baby showers still make me smile. Until fairly recently I only had a vague idea what one actually involved.

Sharon and our daughters have been to a few and always came back smiling, so I assumed it was one of those mysterious events that men don’t need to understand too deeply.

Then I got invited to my sister-in-law’s son’s baby shower, and I was hooked.

Not a macho thing to say probably, but it gave me a sense that life and families always move forward.

Sometimes chaotically and sometimes planned but always moving to new pastures, new adventures, sometimes loss and tragedy but always moving forward.

I have even looked up the origins of baby showers thinking it was probably an american thing that has grown in the UK and Europe.

Apparently, although gaining popularity in the US, it is a modern mix of old traditions, part advice-sharing, part “bring something useful”, and part excuse for cake and a good natter.

As I conclude this post which is about how to balance life and family I guess.

Please let me know how your me time or weekends get disrupted in your 60’s and how you plan a balanced life.

Or is it just not possible.

Please feel free to leave a message.

Life After 60 – Small business Ideas

A few people have asked me this week:

“Is there something small I could do, maybe online…
something to get started again?”

I’ll share some practical ideas next week — simple, realistic, no-nonsense.

Because there are options.

And they don’t have to be complicated.

Coming up next week!

Monday – Business Series – Dreams or Vision? Dreams or Vision? First in a new series on the fundamentals of running a business in your 60’s

Wednesday — Fitness, Mindset & Balance
Update on my planned skydiving fundraising challenge.

Friday — Lifestyle & Frivolity
Travel ideas, places to eat, walks, reflections and reminders that enjoying life is essential.

Ten Weeks That Changed My Thinking

This Thursday will mark ten weeks since I published my first ROPHO post.

What began as a small hobby with a vague idea of one day replacing my day-to-day consultancy work, has gradually grown into something much bigger in my thoughts.

During that time, life has continued to do what life does, presenting challenges, unexpected pauses and moments of clarity.

Trying to balance family worries, existing business commitments and my own health has forced me to think carefully about what I really want the next chapter to look like.

ROPHO has gradually worked its way into my daily routine and, if I am being truthful, into most of my waking thoughts.

Ideas arrive when I’m walking the dog, travelling to client meetings, or trying to switch off late at night.

Like many people in their sixties, I am learning how to balance ambition with the realities of life.

There is still my consultancy work to deliver, there are clients relying on advice and support.

There is also the responsibility of being part of a large and close family.

And over the past year there has also been something far more important than work or personal projects.

When Life Presses Pause

Our daughter has been fighting breast cancer.

For many months our lives have felt as though they were quietly on hold.

We tried to stay positive while, in truth, preparing ourselves emotionally for the worst.

Recently we received the news that every family hopes and prays for, she has now been given the all clear.

Relief does not feel like a strong enough word.

The Moment Everything Felt Different

Experiences like this change your perspective in ways that are hard to describe.

They make you reflect deeply on time, purpose, and what you really want from the years ahead.

Rethinking Work, Time and Energy

For most of my working life I have been involved in running businesses and advising, mainly face to face with clients, often travelling and spending long hours away from home.

It has been rewarding and has given me opportunities I am very grateful for.

But it has also been demanding and at times all-consuming.

Over recent months I have realised that I no longer want to structure my life in quite the same way.

I will continue to support a small number of long-term clients, but increasingly in a more flexible way, working online rather than constantly being on the road.

This decision is not about slowing down, It is about choosing how I spend my time.

It is about creating space to build something I genuinely enjoy and believe in.

That “something” is ROPHO.

Choosing Purpose Over Habit

What began as a small personal project is now becoming a clear part of how I want to spend this next chapter.

Sharing experience, learning new skills, staying active, and hopefully encouraging others to make the most of their own time as well.

Starting something new after 60 is not about having perfect conditions or endless energy.

It is about commitment, belief and the willingness to keep moving forward even when life feels uncertain.

Living through the past year has reinforced one simple idea for me:

Contentment does not come from doing less, it comes from doing what feels meaningful and fun.

For me, that now means building ROPHO with purpose and intention.

What Happens Next

As I look ahead, I know that changing direction now is not about slowing down, it is about being more intentional with the time and energy I have.

Building ROPHO will require discipline, patience and belief, but it also brings a sense of purpose that feels increasingly important.

Over the coming weeks I plan to develop the business, health, and lifestyle themes in a more structured way.

I would like to share more of the practical lessons I have learned during my career and personal life.

Because after sixty, the real opportunity is not to drift, but to choose your direction with clarity and confidence.

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If any part of this journey resonates with you, you are very welcome to subscribe, comment, or simply follow along.
We are all still writing our stories.

Setting the Business on Autopilot: Why Maintenance Buys Freedom

In my last post, I mentioned that my wife and I are heading to Thailand this December to trade the biting cold for some tropical sun.

But here’s the reality, You can’t truly relax on a beach if you’re worried that the “heart” of your business is about to flatline.

To enjoy that escape, I need to know that the machinery of this blog is running smoothly without me.

The Digital Pacemaker

Just like the “battery” in my chest keeps my physical body in the game, small business habits act as the pacemaker for my professional life.

Lately, that has meant diving into the deep end of website maintenance. I’ve been battling the technical “heart conditions” that keep many business owners awake at night.

JavaScript errors, LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) issues, and those frustrating technical gremlins that slow everything down.

The “Do It Today” Rule in Practice

The tagline of this site is.

Do it today, as tomorrow maybe too late!

I apply this to my website code for one simple reason.

I don’t want to be fixing a “JavaScript error” from a hotel room in Bangkok.

I want to do the boring, proactive maintenance now, so that my business is “fit to play” while I’m away.

The “Do It Today” Rule for Business Health

The tagline of this site is: Do it today, as tomorrow maybe too late! I don’t say that to be dramatic; I say it because ignored technical debt is a silent killer of growth.

When your website slows down or your links break, it’s a digital flatline. Most owners wait for a crisis to fix these things, but the most successful small business habits are built on prevention, not just “fire-fighting.”

The 1-Hour Rule: Protecting Your Business Infrastructure

Whether it’s fixing a JavaScript error or following up on a warm lead, consistency is the secret. This is where the 1-Hour Rule comes in:

• 3 Hours a Week: Dedicated to “Maintenance” (Technical health and proactive outreach).
• The Result: A business that doesn’t just survive, but thrives.

Just like a pacemaker keeps a heart in rhythm, these proactive habits keep your business “fit to play” the long game. If I hadn’t spent those protected hours diving into the technical weeds of this blog, it wouldn’t be here for you to read today.

My three hours a week next week will be to improve the design of Ropho website, as I am aware it needs work.

However that is whole purpose of Ropho don’t wait for perfect, do it now.

Overcoming Technical Hurdles After 60

We don’t need to be Silicon Valley coders to run a successful venture in our second act. We just need to be disciplined. Don’t let a “JavaScript error” or a messy pipeline be the thing that stops your progress.

What’s the one technical or administrative “repair” you’ve been putting off? Don’t wait for a total system failure. Do it today.

If any of this resonates please subscribe for no- nonsense business advice, that works.

If You Only Track 5 Business Numbers, Make Them These