Thursday, 24 April 2014

Don't Stop Me Now

That’s it!  I am now officially over 50.  I can have no complaint about my first week as a fifty year old.  I have been out every night since turning the big five-o.  In fact I spent three nights leading up to the big day celebrating “not being 50”.  I am just happy to be home in front of the TV for a quiet night in.  Well for now! 

I have met up with so many friends from yesteryear.  I had a great night out in Cardiff and was overwhelmed by the number of the people who had made the effort to join me to celebrate notably Andy Williams who joined us straight from stepping of a flight from Zurich.  Most of the revellers were people who I had spent 18 years of my working career with building a fantastic business.  More than that though these people have become part of an extended family.  Just shows that “people make businesses”.

Some people unfortunately couldn’t make the evening as they were in far flung corners of the world but still had bothered to send their best wishes.  Dave in Bucharest, Jane in Florida and Matt in UAE you won’t get away with it that easy.  See you when you return to the UK.
The night was a very late one and I certainly won’t be going into detail here about some of the shenanigans.  Need to protect the innocent and the not so innocent.  Just to say there was a lot of drinking and a lot of laughter.  Good luck to all of you and thanks for joining me.  Really special

The Bristol night was a different kind of event but with the same outcomes.  Just great to see family and friends who have supported my family forever.  Seeing people who I have grown up with since the time I had brown hair and good looks – both, its fair to say. Disappeared some time ago.  Just such a great time again.  We ended up in the Rainbow Casino where a number of us through good fortune were up on the night.  Joe had an exceptional win at 35 to 1 win on the roulette wheel.  Thanks to you all.  We have been shoulder to shoulder for a long time.  We have had some amazing times together and I couldn’t have got through the dark days without you.

Brothers Andrew and Wayne, Janet and Bethany see you soon!

The big day itself started off brilliantly.  Not only did Georgina bring me a cup of tea in bed, she showed me such an amazing video that her and Joe had compiled  Dads 50th Birthday video
Couldn’t let the day go by without paying a visit to the one who made me who I am today.  I laid flowers at the cemetery and spent a few quiet minutes peacefully remembering the great times I had with Caroline and how excited she would have been today.  Had lunch with my ladies from the St Peter Hospice group.  Again just good to see how well they have progressed over the past couple of years 

The celebrations in the evening were just so funny.  Amazing what can be done with a set of false eyebrows and moustache and a stuffed toy Yorkshire terrier.

The past week or so has been amazing and very uplifting.  So thanks to everyone.  Great to see so many people getting on with their lives.  Special thanks to mum and dad for all the sacrifices they have made for my brothers and me over the years


I dreaded turning 50 for many reasons.  The first week has been great and I haven’t received by Saga brochure yet.  So far so good!  I now look to the future and wonder what that might bring.  So much to do.  A few more trips booked up including Paris in May.  Then there is the Bristol 10k run.  See my brother Andrew and by nephew Harry some time in the summer up there in Aberdeen (hope it’s not part of a foreign country by then)!  Guess the next 50 years are going to be like everything else in life:  what you make it!

No comments:

Post a Comment