“All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, ‘Oh, why can’t you remain like this for ever!’ This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.”
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Brain: There’s that animal I’m very familiar with, with mane and big teeth!
Brain’s word identification software: Lion!
Mouth: Goat.
True story.
Eyes, reading ahead: “the Temple in Jerusalem where God’s presence was promised.”
Mouth, reading out aloud: Jerusalism
True story.
My brain hears colleague speak: “I’m going to hit my foot now.”
My collogue’s actual words: “I’m going to eat my food now.”
Also a true story.
The ageing process is coming on thick and fast.
As of the 27th June 2019 I’m in a new club – ’45-54′. I’m aware it’s not really a proper club, but I know I’m in it because I had to fill in an online form this morning, and realised I can no longer tick the box next to ’35-44′.
Worse, I texted a friend on the morning of my birthday and told her “I’m having a bit of a personal crisis about turning 46.”
45 – even!
I’m sorry to say that there were tears.
But why?
Turned 30 – no tears. Turned 40 – also no tears.
45 feels like I have an iOS software upgrade due, but there’s not enough space on my device. So I’m having to delete some non-essentials (which were once essentials!) – a couple of memories, a few plans, a hope, some joint movement, the elasticity of my skin!
Upgrade to iOS45 was a mixed bag:- a questionable card from my niece who tells me I’m still “reasonably young”; cakes in the office from Patisserie Valerie; a lovely card from Hubby (the contents rather than the cover); wine tasting at Vagabond Fulham and a long sunny summer’s day in London.
And finally, who can complain when there is a good supply of ‘cures-all-ills’ remedies in our house, thanks to Twinings and Phil’s Rusks (the best rusk in the South African, Wild Coast).
Here’s to being a grown up!
SMALL PRINT:
P.s. Left: my birthday card from Hubby, referencing an alleged story about me in a Pilates class. I will deny it if asked. There were after all several proper grey-haired old ladies in the class so really, there’s no proof!
P.p.s. In other news, Europe is experiencing a heatwave while England is relatively cool – our heatwave was on Saturday 29th June.
P.p.p.s. “How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” ― Dr. Seuss
P.p.p.p.s. Next blog I’ll tell you all about our 5 weeks ‘Into Africa’. Not to be confused with ‘Out of Africa’.
Nyamazela 