How old will you be next year?

Do you remember the days as a child, when apart from marrying a handsome prince and owning all the toys in the world, the only other ambition was to celebrate another birthday and enjoy being another year older and the experience of growing up.

When I was 5, I so wanted to be 7. It meant graduating from Infants to Juniors.

At 7 I longed to be 10 and enjoy a later bedtime.

At 10 I wanted to be 13. The anticipation of becoming a teenager.

But it didn't stop there. Once I turned 13 I couldn't wait for my 16th birthday, then the 18th and my 21st.

And in the rush, I would always enjoy the New Year's Day game that would help birthdays speed along at a faster pace. A simple trick of the mind, but one that I always relished.

Do you wanna play? It's simple, and will work as long as you already haven't had a birthday this year and is even more effective if your birthday is at least three months away.

Just answer these two easy questions...

How old are you right now?
And how old will you be next year, on your birthday in 2010?

I tried it on my eldest boy, who is currently 7 but was delighted to hear that next year he'll be 9.

Problem is when you're 40, the last thing you want to hear is that next year you'll be 42.

Oh well...according to the Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy, at least 42 is the answer to life the universe and everything. But really I'm in no rush to get there. For once I'm happy that I'm still only 40.

Growing up eh? Now who'd want to do that?

Birthday blogging

Well the girl is doing what she loves doing best...well almost...blogging live in the Lounge on my birthday. Shhh...don't tell 21st C Dad, who's hard at work at an AGM today. With a jam packed social agenda over the weekend I should be food shopping and cleaning the house.

But today is my fortieth birthday so I will avoid it as much as possible, then make up for my sins tomorrow morning.

So FORTY eh! When did that happen? How come 1968 feels so far away. Geez, back then nobody had even landed on the moon!

But so far, being forty is great. I celebrated with the lovely Ruby yesterday, in London no less, will be celebrating with 21st C Dad and the children this evening and have a whole weekend of celebrations booked in with friends.

So it's non-stop partying. That's what turning forty is all about.

But what else does it mean? Well for me it's about...

Friendships with people I've "collected" over the years.
Opportunities that are around the corner.
Relationships with those dear to me, my husband, family and friends.
Thankful for two beautiful children.
Youthfulness, no matter what age I am.

And that's it in a nutshell! I could have included much more, but ran out of letters! Funny that, with such a milestone you'd think there would be more. I suppose I'll have to wait until I'm hundred for that delight.

Anyway remember the bit about the moon? Who would have guessed back in 1968 that forty years later I would be able to see the moon up close...and I don't mean the familiar scene from outside the window.

No, my special 40th birthday treat is that 21st C Dad and family have bought me my very own telescope. A point and click one, where I can tell it to show me the moon, Jupiter or Mars and it will find it. Perfect for a girlie beginner like me.

So, if you don't hear from me for a while, you'll know that I will be lost somewhere in the galaxy, watching the stars.

But I haven't forgotten my excitement...the one that is keeping us all on tenterhooks....I will be back with news very soon.

And on that note...I'm off to get prepared for tonight's full moon. No rude comments per..lease!

Another Birthday

Yippee!

As of today, I have a six year old boy. No...that doesn't mean I'm a now a mother of 3, it's just that my 5 year old turned 6 today.

If someone had just given me a fully-fledged child six years ago, I would not have had the faintest idea what to have done with them. How to talk to them, walk with them, play with them, discipline them or have fun with them. Yet we have grown together and I am a now a different character, not quite an Earth Mother, but somewhere between there and my old child-free career woman alter-ego!

So what does a six year old boy like? Well this one loves K'nex, Lego, Transformers, Wooden Train Sets and anything connected with Doctor Who. It's a long way from rattles and cuddlies...but actually, life with a six year old is now a lot more fun!

And what does a mother of a six year old boy like? Hunting for snails, lots of tickles, talking about nonsense, having bug parties and Doctor Who (yes Doctor Who, not just anything connected to Doctor Who...just the man himself)! It's a long way from life in the office...but as I said...a lot more fun!