Former teacher and veteran accountant Patricia Reid-Waugh has published her first book, called Retirement, A New Adventure.

Retirement, A New Adventure according to the author, “is full of ideas to have an active, fun and enriching life in retirement”, Reid-Waugh wrote in describing the product of hard work that entailed long hours in getting the publication on the market.

“The thesis of the book is that life in retirement involves much more than ensuring financial security. Retirement opens up opportunities for doing new things; and learning new things, exploring new places and meeting new people; discovering hidden talents and showcasing them; and experimenting with new tools and techniques to reconnect with the past and connect to the future.

“Retirement affords time to fulfil long-held dreams and aspirations on the journey to self-actualisation. What sets this book apart is the stories it provides from real-life experiences of the author and others; stories ranging from silly to serious, revealing how enjoyable and satisfying life in retirement can be,” Reid-Waugh wrote.

The 85-page book was published by authorHOUSE in the United States.

Reid-Waugh, a retired chartered accountant, holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Mathematics and Economics, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education in the Teaching of Mathematics, and a Master of Science in Accounting, all from the University of the West Indies (UWI). Additionally, she pursued graduate studies in educational administration under a USAID Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.

Reid-Waugh began her professional career as a mathematics teacher at Calabar High School in September 1974, and left in August 1981 to pursue the MSc Accounting degree in preparation for a career transition and subsequent qualification as a chartered accountant. After completing the MSc programme she joined the firm, Touche Ross (later Deloitte). In the years since then, she carved out an impressive career path which took her from Jamaica to the Deloitte firm in St Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, and later to St Kitts and Nevis where she worked with the government as a commissioner of the Financial Services Regulatory Commission and as a Financial Services Regulator for the island of Nevis. In the 1980s she also did a short stint as financial controller at the now defunct Jamaica Record.

Her multicultural exposure is complimented by her broad creative and social pursuits, a great sense of humour, and a passion for life. In addition to playing the piano, she studied organ music at the Jamaica School of Music and has served as organist at churches in Jamaica, St Maarten, and Nevis. Since retirement, she has taken up the challenge of learning to play the violin and achieved success in the Trinity College grades one and two violin examinations.

Reid-Waugh writes poetry and short stories for entertainment at community, church and family events. In 2010, she was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission for an original poem titled Me An Me Jacob.

In December 2016, Reid-Waugh ventured into the world of literary publication with the publication of her first book Retirement, A New Adventure which is available locally at Readers’ Book Shop, Liguanea, and online from Amazon.com and Barnes and at Noble.

The official launch of the book will be held on Sunday, February 5 at Waterfalls, Liguanea, beginning at 11.30.