Hands up all those who never really enjoyed working!

Granny piper, I have just read your thread and completely agree that New Labour ruined education.

I couldn't agree more. I hated work, not because I'm lazy. It was the bitches I worked with, some horrendous bullies who seemed to get pleasure from putting people down, gossiping about everybody once they left the room, two faced arse lickers. I'm now retired and have never been so happy, absolutely love every day, doing what I want, when I want.

Carolebarrel, can you contact your pension authority to find out where you stand? I looked mine up online. You may not be able to draw your pension until a certain age but your contributions need to reach a certain criteria this could have been done already at 62 if you have a full working record maybe?

Lily flower I quite agree. I too was a teacher and although I enjoyed it at first it became too much of a strain towards the end with the National curriculum, OFSTED, targets, appraisals and increasingly difficult behaviour of students so that discipline became a strain and so on. After retiring I did some adult ed teaching which I loved but the huge amount of paperwork got me down in the end. Giving students individual targets and lesson plans and getting them to comment on their achievements each week was time consuming and pointless as no-one ever seemed to look at them (unless there was an inspection!) The students hated it too!

Work was just a means to earn money to do the things Zi wanted to do or needed. Left work early on ill health and have never looked back. Hated the job, the people and the whole setup but it paid. Now I can do voluntary work in areas that I am interested as someone earlier said, born to retire

Just where did that z spring from?

I've had a chequered career. Started out in hotels but had to give up because I was useless at maths; went into teaching which would have been OK if children weren't involved ; worked in television which was the best job ever but left when I became pregnant; took various admin jobs which I enjoyed - didn't have to think, just 'do'; took a post in the probation service which led to me beginning legal training which I loved and then DH started a company and I took on what I thought would be a part time job and ended up full time for 26 years. My mantra for my children and grandchildren is 'no experience is every wasted - whether good or bad'. I've certainly learned a lot over the years and met a wide range of people which has stood me in good stead on a number of occasions. So if you've never enjoyed working just think of something that you did get out of it - a new skill; friendships; learning to be assertive.........

Alima I can really relate to your post I also worked in payroll & many other jobs can honestly say I never minded the actual work but couldn't stand all the crap so no wasn't bothered about not having to go to work. I did do a lot of temping jobs when I was younger and it was great not to have to be involved in all the office politics and know I could leave if I really hated the place. I don't know if young people temp so much now