Friday 7 December 2012

Tasting Better

I have to say, that I like being forty two. It tastes better than forty one. Maybe I prefer even numbers or maybe forteee twooo just sounds better, rolling off my tongue with an air of grace and sophistication and cleverness, or so I like to think. I barely uttered forty one to anyone but with forty two, I generously hand out the number like it's my Twitter handle (or my blog page). I simply like being forty two; it's how a good curry should taste the following day or a perfectly brewed cup of tea or a moist, crumbly slice of cake. It wears well on my skin, a realistic fit upon the comfy rolls of flesh. Perhaps I'm accepting middle age? Perhaps I've stopped resisting the linearity of time? Or perhaps I'm completely deluded? 

Twenty years ago, I'd just stepped into my twenty third year. It seems offensively young now. With stars and hope and intensity in my eyes - amplified by precocious swagger - I thought I had life sussed. Dream on younger self. If I could wind back time, I might impart the following wisdom to the more arrogant, impulsive version of me...

On the other hand, what's the point? I could share such philosophical insights as to the paradoxical nature of existence - how life is as random and meaningless as it's connected and laden with synchronicity - but I know younger me won't pay the slightest morsel of attention. Just know this twenty two year old fledgling, it generally all works out in the end, and stop blowing all your money on records, you need clothes too!

Anyway, returning to the present, my birthday falls exactly a month before Christmas, and is usually a rain soaked affair. This year I awoke to filmy blue skies and a pale yellow sun at half mast, a sure sign it was going to be a fine day. And I wasn't disappointed, my birthday haul included a stack of novels and a brand new camera no less! Who's a lucky hen then?



Younger Dad, Little A and I went for a stroll in our local park followed by a succulent roast beef lunch with all the trimmings at a local gastro pub. It was a very relaxed celebration, and as Younger Dad had taken a week off work, it turned out to be a very eventful week indeed with some surprising and not so surprising realisations...

(You'd better be paying some attention to this twenty two year old me.) 

I'm now a veteran at handling episodes of vomiting. Little A began throwing up on the night of my birthday. It began in earnest at 3.00 am - I will wake up and throw up and wake up again, and then, I will throw up and vomit and throw up again - with the last hurl around 8.00 am. Apart from the initial burst of undigested scramble egg, no other changed sheets were necessary. How so? Well I cocooned myself in a warm duvet next to her cot, and as soon as I heard a sniff of a stir, a croaky "mummy", I grabbed her in a torpedo hold, raced her to the bathroom - making it by the skin of my teeth - so that she could take aim over the side of the bath. By 9.00 am Little A had returned to life, raring to go on a bowl of Cheerios...    

As mothers, WE DESERVE the finer things in life. I don't feel I need to add much more to this other than I spent quality time rehousing my sullen wardrobe and treating myself to skin care luxury. I felt very worth it indeed.  

Little A is very, very loud... 

"THE DOGGEEE IS GOING TO GET STICK MAN. THE GIRL IS GOING TO GET STICK MAN. STICK MAN'S IN THE SEA. LOOK, IT'S SANTA CLAUS - IT'S SANTA CLAUS MUMMEEEE. IT'S SANTA CLAUS!!!! I'VE BEEN A GOOD GIRL - I'M GOING TO GET PRESENTS TOO!"

These were just some of  Little A's urgent cries during her very first trip to the theatre. In case you hadn't guessed, we took her to see a very charming live performance of Julia Donaldson's Stick Man. It was a joy to witness my daughter's sheer exuberance as she whooped and cheered and added her commentary throughout the unfolding story. And so wonderful to view the show through her captivated eyes.

I CAN roll with the punches. Change usually bothers me, especially if it's big change, and I will procrastinate until the final hour. But by the end of last week, our flat was on the market, and by the end of tomorrow we will have offered on another property. Not in a million years would I have predicted this as the outcome of my birthday week. And I have really surprised myself at how, so far, I've taken this turn of events in my stride. It feels very good. The timing is right. It's full steam ahead as we've boxed, cleared stuff out, booked decorators and carpet cleaners, made our flat spacious and presentable. So it's been a very busy time in our household, and the main reason I've been so quiet on the blogging front of late... 

Do you like your age?
What things did you learn last week?

30 comments:

  1. I turned 32 in September. That was a surprise to me, as I thought I was already 32... Wishing my life away!

    Hope you had a lovely birthday - sounds like you did!

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    1. 32 is a good age - and I remember 33 being a rather vintage year too. I did thank you :o).

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  2. I have missed you. Sounds like an enormously eventful week and full of surprises indeed. I hate the thought of you moving further away but am glad that you're eventually doing what you need. I can't imagine Little A like that. Go girls!

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    1. Missed you too! It was a really busy week, and this week has been just as hectic too - won't be moving that far away :o). Little A has a very exuberant side to her. :o).

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  3. Happy birthday lovely lady :) Love your collection of Atwood novels too XX

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    1. Thank you!!! I love M Atwood - her writing is just fabulous. X.

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  4. I'll be joining you in February. And I agree 42 has a certain je ne sais quoi that 41 lacks. 41 sounds like its clinging to the last vestiges of the 30s. 42 sounds like Brave New World, here we come!

    Hope you enjoy your books and your jumpers xx

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    1. Oh goodie - come join in the middle aged fun! 42 is good, and you are so right about 41, it's like being 39 (another duff age)all over again. Brave New World indeed! X.

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  5. Happy Birthday! Wonderful writing as ever. The theatre trip sounds delicious. I wish you could bottle some occasions like that, but we can at least do scone best and blog about them.
    I learn this week that you are proper ill if you have a pile of cards and parcels in the kitchen but don't have the motivation to open them. Still sniffing form my bed :(

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    1. Thank you and thank you! The theatre trip was A LOT of fun. Hope you are feeling better soon - colds are horrid - big hugs to you! :o).

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  6. Happy Birthday to you! 42 sounds better than 41 in my view. But whatever, it sounds like, it's great that you sound so positive and that there is so much good news in your life. Loved reading this post. So much for the OM family to look forward to. Would love to hear more about the move. Smiled at the top book on the pile. I'm going to try and get into the fiction writing more this year - we'll have to compare notes :0). Lovely post. Here, * have some more cake* on me. xxx

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    1. Thank you Mummy Plum! So far 42 is treating me well. Yes, lots of good stuff going on at the moment but so, so busy. Will defo be writing more about the move very soon - if time will allow my fingers on my keyboard. Thought you might smile at that - thank you for the tip - it looks very good. Defo compare writing notes, and that slice of cake tastes delicious! X.

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  7. Wow, what an exciting birthday week you've had! Happy birthday to you, I enjoyed reading all about it. Apart from the puking bit it all sounded very nice!

    I am older than you but yes, I like my age, or rather I have grown to like my age. This week (because of the previous few weeks) I have surprised myself by learning to take each day at a time and to be finally cool and calm about Christmas. Nothing I can do so what's the point of stressing, eh??! And I've learned to stop and take stock of the beauty all around me :-)

    Great post, thank you.

    xx Jazzy

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    1. Thank you, and I did. Yes, it was great apart from the vomiting. That's great that you have grown to like your age, but it sounds more than that - that you are feeling very comfortable in your skin - fab that you are living in the moment and appreciating everything around you. X.

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  8. Love your post. I totally agree, forty-two is a much finer number than fourty-one... Glad you had a lovely day and nice presents! xx

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    1. Thank you! I had a lovely day - very chilled - and really love my presents! X.

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  9. Wow, what a week! I can't believe you sold your flat so quickly....pastures new :) And I'm with you on not liking change very much so well done. I am also 42 next Birthday so I'm very pleased that someone has already made it and can confirm it's a good'un! Happy Birthday, sounds like you've had a great day :) x

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    1. Yes it was indeed - and still continues to be. Haven't sold it yet - but it's on the market now and we are getting viewings. Come join the 42 crew - it's a great age. I had a lovely day, thank you. X.

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  10. Good luck with the house, sounds lie you've got the vomiting under control. x

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    1. Thank you - getting there if a little stressful. I don't enjoy toddler vomiting episodes at all! X.

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  11. Belated birthday greetings. A new wardrobe is definitely the thing to celebrate any change in age. I'm going to be 37 next year and it feels like 40 is slowly but surely creeping up on me. I don't mind so much because it's an excuse to plan something fabulous.

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    1. Thank you! New clothes make such a happy difference - especially at birthday time! 40 is fun - and really worth a big celebration (I had a great time). (wish I could be 37 again though - seems a long, long way away now)

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  12. Happy Birthday lovely lady and what a way to celebrate. Making decisions when the time is right can feel so rewarding and empowering, none of the stressing and doubting that another time might bring. Recognising that moment is the really clever bit and you seem full of wisdom and good decisions now you are 42. Having turned 40 this year I am learning to embrace this decade of my life. I am very much enjoying finding the grown up I've always known I can be. So yes I am loving my age. I will look forward to following you and your family through your move and into an exciting new year.

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    1. Thank you! Well this last week has been pretty stressful with decorators and carpet cleaners through our doors :o). But getting there. Yes, I have to say I am enjoying my forties too - what do they say? Life begins at...

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  13. I never like my age, even when I was 29 I thought ouch! 30 eek! I am forever 37, this year, last year and next year haha! Hope Little A is better now, hurling is no fun, well done with the torpedo hold, I used to have a bucket ready for no.1 child, TC not a hurler, never been sick, stomach of iron that one ;)
    Belated happy birthday wishes, lovely that you had such a fab day. Good luck with the flat selling xx

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    1. Thank you MLM. I didn't like 29 either or 39 for that matter. Yes, she is back to her bouncy self. Very impressed by TC's constitution :o).

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  14. Aw belated happy birthday! I like the sound of 42, not there yet, but I agree that some ages have a better feel and sound than others, not even sure it's an odd or even thing, maybe it's a chinese numerology thang - I know I was worried that Ma Puce was born on 13th, but my mum then told me that in Chinese her birthdate is a lucky one. Anyway, have a wonderful year ahead.

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    1. Thank you! It's good - I can recommend it - 42 defo has a better feel about it - it may be an even number thing! It's a lucky number for Ma Puce! Will do! :o).

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  15. Happy Birthday! I still think fondly of 27... but that was such a long time ago now. In my head, I will always think of myself as 27. Sigh.
    I'd love to take Z to the Stick Man. He loves all those books.
    Good luck with your move xxx

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    1. Thank you - 27 is way, way back in time now. I think I stopped 'aging' at 32. I can highly recommend it - it was brilliantly done. X.

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