THEY say you’re a long time retired. I certainly hope so.

In early April, I scribbled my last shorthand note while interviewing a local councillor, bashed out my ultimate report and logged off for the final time.

I was ready to embark on my new adventure - or ‘journey’ as they like to call it these days. Retirement.

I woke early the next morning, even without the assistance of the alarm that had annoyed me thousands of times down the years.

Somerset County Gazette: “I have so many fond memories of my career.”“I have so many fond memories of my career.” (Image: Phil Hill)

As a blackbird trilled its dawn chorus, it suddenly dawned on me I was going to miss so much after 35 years bashing away at a keyboard.

My colleagues, many of whom weren’t even born when I joined the County Gazette back in 1989; scores of the thousands of people I’d interviewed down the years and remained in touch with; the buzz of uncovering a great tale; or the adrenaline rush (aka panic) of hearing editors scream, “Hold the front page”, giving me 30 minutes to write a breaking story. (But it was cutting it a bit fine the time I was given just five minutes to file a 350-word page one lead or ’splash’).

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I have so many fond memories of my career. So, after a brief hiatus of somehow avoiding the allure of daytime TV, I was delighted when Gazette editor Tim Lethaby came calling.

Obviously fearing my brain was likely to turn to seed, Tim descended on my house, sat me down and asked if I would like to write a weekly column.

“Maybe,” I toyed with saying. But it was silly playing hard to get, so my actual response was: “Yes, please.”

From next week I’ll be joining the august company of Gazette columnists readers already follow.

I’ll endeavour to comment on matters that concern local people; delve into goings-on in the area; respond to how national and local decisions could impact on us; follow hot gossip; sometimes give my opinion on certain topics.

I’ll kick things off next week by reflecting on the life of a wonderful man who left an indelible impression on hundreds of children he taught.