That's it, I've officially Brexited my Forties. It's the Big One!
Since every year I take a look back at what I've managed for the first time since my last birthday, here's how I kept things fresh when I was 49:
For the Very First Time:
- I bought an exercise DVD. (I nearly killed myself for about 3 weeks, then gave up)
- I obtained a PAC code to move my phone number: TECH-WIZARD AWARD TO ME!
- I scaled a climbing wall:
 |
| "Okay, that was fun, never again" |
- I visited Brittany and the standing stones of Carnac
 |
| Merlin's Tomb. For sure. |
- I fell in love with the amazing Machines de l'Ile
- I visited Sicily and the Tombs of the Capuchins and walked on an active volcano - in a blizzard!
- I played Sardines and used a Ouija board, thus completing my 1920s credentials
- I got my car stranded in the snow (and was rescued by a guy in a Land Rover and a kilt!!!)
I discovered tea with whiskey in it, possibly the greatest medicinal breakthrough of our time:
 |
| It's the only thing keeping me alive right now |
- I started using a chainsaw again, after a break of several years :-)
- I gave a workshop at Smut By the Sea 2016
- I watched a movie on IMAX (yes, seriously)
- I shot an airsoft gun
- I finally got to see Newgrange in Ireland:
- I voluntarily held both a chihuahua and a baby (but not at the same time). I was quite taken by the chihuahua, tbh.
- I visited the John Rylands Library in Manchester for a witchcraft and demonology exhibition
- I went to the once-in-a-lifetime Hieronymus Bosch 500 Exhibition in the Netherlands
- I discovered on the same weekend that the wrong sort of smoke makes me paranoid - and I don't mean a bit edgy: I mean "Oh my god I'm having a psychotic break, what if this never stops?!"- rpt ad nauseum for several hours paranoid. Not nice at all.
- I was contacted by a film-maker interested in adapting one of my books!
What am I looking forward to as I turn 50? The publication of In Bonds of the Earth and The Prison of the Angels, of course! And, most of all, getting rid of this damn cold...
3 comments:
Happy 50th, and well done you! I left my 50th back on Millenium Eve (that was quite a party - everyone else seemed to be celebrating too!) Since then I have been to Machu Picchu in Peru, to the Everest Base Camp in Tibet, seen elephants and lions in the wild in Namibia, the Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia, among many other wonderful places. Plus I started writing. Life in your fifties and sixties really is good. Enjoy it all.
What a fabulous list!
Good on you Janine… and HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Sending kisses, and wishes for another splendiferous year of life (and a few more on top!)
Thank you!
Rachel, you are an inspiration - I hope I can keep up!
Post a Comment