30 November 2015

Milestone

I had a milestone birthday this last weekend and am now officially an Old Age Pensioner at 65, although these days the retirement age is anything between 60 and 70. I wasn't particularly looking forward to this transition and hoped I'd just wake up after the day was over. For someone who didn't want to celebrate it at all I don't know how it happened but the celebrations are stretching over 10 days. First I met up last Wednesday evening with a gang of "girls" (the youngest one was 50), whom I have known for best part of 20 years, when all our children were at  Kindergarten together. They showered me with presents and cards and even tipped the waiting staff at the Italian restaurant to sing "happy birthday" to me with candles in my tiramisu. We were the last to leave the restaurant at 11pm. What a riot.

My actual birthday yesterday was spent in a slightly more sedate manner. Kay was on-call at the hospital and couldn't get the time off to come and celebrate with me (though she sent me a beautiful arrangement of flowers), so I booked lunch at a quaint Kentish pub and celebrated with my old mum, who, after all, was responsible for me being here at all. Sitting by a real log fire with views out on the wintry Kent countryside was a real treat.

In a few days, I am off to visit my closest friend in Hertfordshire, where we shall celebrate again and on Saturday I am off to meet my sister-in-law and her daughter halfway somewhere in Buckinghamshire for a further gathering and swapping of Christmas presents. Kay is hoping to join us for that too. Even the Queen only has two birthdays!

I had been dreading this transition into old age (even though everyone says I don't look as old as 50 let alone 65), but despite that, I have enjoyed the celebrations after all. Just a few hospital investigations to brave before Christmas to identify the cause of a health scare I had a few weeks ago and then I can hopefully get on with organising Christmas.

Old Age Pensioner


12 comments:

Jennifer said...

You are beautiful! And these days, 65 is not very old at all. Happy Birthday!

the veg artist said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Enjoy as many celebrations as you can!!

Rab said...

Happy Birthday Addy. I hope you had a good day yesterday. You certainly don't look your age. I hope you enjoy the trip to visit your friend.

All the best

Rab

Jeanette said...

Happy Birthday! 65 is still pretty young! You look fantastic!

AGuidingLife said...

oh happy birthday. sounds like a grand series of events - so many they make take you through to 66 still celebrating :)

Flowerpot said...

You look amazing Addy and a very happy belated birthday. 80 is the new 60, so you have a long way to go yet! X

Shammickite said...

You are looking beautiful! I love these extended birthday celebrations, even though the thought of milestone birthdays is a little daunting.
65 is just a young chick, I have 5 years on you!

Maggie May said...

You don't look your age, that's for sure.
You are a baby compared to me! (73)! I've found my bus pass a great help!
Enjoy your *pension* years!!!!!!
Maggie x

Nota Bene said...

Happy Birthday! Enjoy the celebrations...I think we all (including me) worry about the passing of time, but everyday brings a new experience which will be a memory to look back on a year later

nappy valley girl said...

You look lovely! Happy birthday. x

DD's Diary said...

How lovely to see what you look like! And definitely not a pensioner (though I thought the retirement age was 60, I am clearly a long way behind the times). Very belated Happy Birthday x

SH -ic said...

in delay .. happy birthday , .. you are looking wonderfull