Now I know what's going on, I wanted to share this with you all.

In 18 months time, I'm going to take early retirement. Drawing my pension at the age of 50 with a stiff actuarial reduction won't give me enough to live on for the rest of my life - but it WILL give me enough to be able to afford go back to college and re-train as a teacher.

The only thing about training as a teacher is that teaching and Challenging don't mix.

I have put in an entry for 2016; but having just become a Leg-end, it'll be straight onto the standby list for me. So I may or may not be with you next year.

Will I be able to take up a place in 2017? I don't know. I'll have stopped work - but I'll need to fit a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course in some time between the end of April and the beginning of October, and I don't yet know if that will rule out particuipation in 2017.

2018? Mid-way through my PGCE course, and I doubt I'll be able to join you all.

After that? Well, all being well, I will be established in my new career by then ... and that means no more Challenges for me. Well, not until I reach my "proper" retirement age, anyway ... and that's some time in the future!

All the best for your new career, Jeremy. We need good teachers!

Your last challenge? At 50? For someone who didn't start until 60 it's hard to believe.

You will re-incarnate as a real OAP in 10 years or so and come again, I feel sure. ;-)

Must be a 50th birthday thing :)
I will also turn 50 at the end of the year, and i started negociating leaving the company i have been working for 26 years.
I wasnt feeling like working for it 15 more years.
They asked for 2 years to organize this, so we should start our new career in about the same time.

Hoping to see you again on the TGO, if not now, then after your real retirement.

I may have an opportunity for you, Mr Burrows. A vacancy has arisen for an assistant master at my respected academy near Greta Bridge in Yorkshire.

I should say that the previous assistant master, a Mr Nickleby, left under something of a cloud. I trust that you will prove to be a man of sterner character and not afraid to impose the strict discipline that is deplorably lacking in so-called "progressive" establishments.

Excellent news, Jeremy, and good luck with your new life.

Does it have to be schoolteaching? I taught English as a Foreign Language for many years and it is impossible to get holidays June - August because of the holiday courses, so I used to take mine in May and September.EM9

What Robin said, and....I'm sure you WILL be back on the Challenge, if not next year then sometime in the future.

You already know that the Challenge is an addiction for which there is no known cure, the fact that you're now a legend is proof of that.

Anyroadup, get your route planned for next year as there's a decent chance that you'll get on from the waiting list - just like all the other recently promoted Leg Ends.

Best wishes,

JJ

Seems 2015 won't be your last, Jeremy! No Standby List.

All the best with the new career.

Yeah - just saw that.

Still ... gotta plan this one on the assumption that it will be my last!

Hi Jezza

Now you're entering your sixth decade I would start planning any Challenge as though it will be your last...

What you on about, Sloe Man? I shan't enter my sixth decade for the best part of two years, yet.

That's it AL — let's look on the bright side :-)