I worked through it as was demed "essential", looking back, although at the time I was envious of folks who had all that time off, It kept me with a sense of continuity and also was quite invigorating and proud to be part of a big team effort to do good stuff, we were flat out repairing / putting aircraft into service and taking staff on at that time in a massive project to help out.
Was careful as have issues so never had it..........until two bleedin' weeks ago!
As have had all the jabs and boosters I have not been too bad, chest still a bit tight but testing clear for 5 days now.
I was on 3 days for about 3 years before Covid due to caring commitments, and due to various health issues and failing close up vison was struggling anyway, so walked out at 65 after 49 straight years of work since aged 16.
Still do the odd couple of days a month on a consultancy basis, which is handy as have the run of the place and access to all the kit too, and can choose my hours and days (so rainy day = pop in for 5-6 hours and catch up on the goss).
So same age John give or take a year (1957 here), I always have had all sorts of interests, am with you on the weight thing, as a fabricator welder you are moving the whole time and on your feet all day, so now I am waking up a bit later, and sitting around a bit, and also doing what I never did before, eating out mid day on occasion, my weight has snuck up by a stone and a tad.
Especially this time of year you have to make the effort, else the day is lost, so say yesterday I loaded the treaders in the car and we drove to near Gloucester then did 20 miles down the towpath and around the docks.
Healthwise a big ice cream, then a stop at a Greek cafe probably meant we ingested more calories than expended!
Today will be outside cutting hedges, then hopefully later a trip to an RFD 20 miles away to pick up a 30 and we will have a riverside walk and mooch around town (and probably eat again!)..... but now I can resist the old guns I see, am over that phase.
Have my old motorbike, fishing, shooting, music (out tonight open mic), still do one or two books a week, dunno how I find the time to get on here, but hands and knee hip and back issues mean some days I have to amend my plans.
Can't really help more mate except to say just try and keep moving, even if it hurts, and occupied mate.
All the best, Ed