Elizabeth’s story

Doing so freed up cash for other things. But when she and her husband wanted to book a last-minute getaway just before they retired, the only option was a cruise. “That’s for old people, oh no, we can’t do that!” was her initial response, but despite her misgivings she soon found out that people of all ages go on cruises.

Starting in the Mediterranean, they toured seven countries and quickly made friends on board. They loved it so much they booked another, and have since been on an American cruise to the Caribbean.

But interestingly it was colder climes that attracted her – they’ve enjoyed cruises in Norway, been dog sledding in the Arctic and braved -30ºC blizzards to spot polar bears.

“We’re just ordinary people – not sports addicts or anything. A lot of retired people could certainly do something like us,” she says.

Brushing up on her language skills

When not travelling, Elizabeth has reconnected with her love of languages; she first began learning Russian at school 50 years ago, and has since picked it up again in retirement by enrolling on a course with the University of the Third Age.

“It’s quite an unusual language, so when I retired I thought I would quite like to brush up on my Russian, learning with other people my age.”

But she’s also managed to travel as part of her charity work – her son runs a research charity, Ataxia UK, and also suffers from this neurodegenerative disease; she and her husband accompanied him to help at a speaking engagement in Vegas, and filled their spare time visiting the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam.

In Vegas she even explored the casinos, though she says that they were a “bit busy and not my thing”.

Although Elizabeth claims to be just an ordinary person, she has an extraordinary curiosity to see and hear more about different cultures. Surely by now she must have ticked off most of her travel bucket list?

“I haven’t seen the Northern Lights yet,” she says.