Julia’s Party

As it is my name letter ‘J’ this week for Alphabe-Thursday, I’m sharing some great photos of my party.

Let me explain. In case you haven’t heard I’m 60 on 26th January. That is quite a decade to have reached! I have had a party for 30, 40, 50 so of course we had to do something for the big 6-0. It was held in a Chinese restaurant which is situated at the top of a complex for the Chinese community. The food is fabulous and the approach somewhat novel.

You are given a menu consisting of a large number of dishes for each of the courses. You select your choice for starters. You can have a s many as you like. When you have finished those you are asked if you would like more starters or are you ready to proceed to the intermediate course. When you have finished that, you are asked again if you would like more intermediate or move to the mains…and so on. There is a set price for the meal so you don’t have to worry about the pricey dishes. If you are someone who likes the variety of starters, you eat them all night!

As there were 18 of us, they brought a selection for each of the courses which was brilliant as we didn’t have to stop talking! Eating Chinese food is such fun and when you add excellent company it was a wonderful evening. For some of the folks attending, this was their 4th ‘Julia’s Party’. That makes me feel good to think we have such long-standing friends who have supported us through the years.

Here is just a snippet – friends, balloons, my handsome son & his wife, and me near to tears with my amazing cake! You may be wondering why the birthday party was not nearer the day. Well that’s because I am being taken to Paris so that I can be at the top of the Eiffel tower on my birthday! Spoilt or what!!

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100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #28

Please read first!

Many of you know about the 100 Word Challenge that is run from 100wc.net. It is the original 100 word project and is for children under 16. We desperately need some more folks to comment of these brilliant pieces of work. I would be really grateful if you could ad a note and a link on your blogs to encourage your readers to get involved. Many thanks! 

Many thanks to those of you who did enter last week’s ‘Critique’ prompt. I know it was challenging but it’s there in the title of this weekly journey into the life of a writer. A special thank you must go to Snellopy over in Hanoi who did a critique of every entry from Week#26. Do go and read his ‘Full House’. I’m hoping it will give you some ideas for the next time this sort of prompt is posed!!

Now, after all the grumbling i’m going to let you really have fun! It is my 60th birthday on 26th January. It is the one ‘Big – O’ birthday that I’ve had a problem with. That is probably to do with all the adverts I’ve had for stair lifts and walking aids!

Anyway, I thought I’d put reaching this milestone to good use. your prompt for this week is

…you bought her what…

I haven’t put in any punctuation because I don’t want to influence any of you. Normal rules apply – only 100 words, suitable for PG certificate and in by Monday 30th January.

Now don’t you agree I spoil you!

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list. I will transfer it to this page as soon as possible!

1. Reverie
2. Discovering Writing ‘All Wet’
3. …you bought her what…
4. Shattered -Blog Up North
5. All She Ever Wanted
6. A Conversation – Five Fs
7. You Cannot be Serious
8. The Best Gift
9. Gold Bracelets
10. Dead Man Walking
11. Flowers – cjpalace
12. Believe Anyway
13. The Outfit
14. LLM Calling: Christmas Eve
15. Lucid Gypsy
16. Another Tutors Gift – If I were brave
17. Mahjong
18. Writing from the Edge
19. Write Tuit
20. A Present for the Boss
21. Wordy Wordlessness
22. Too Small
23. Glenda Gloop’s Failed Surprise
24. Julia’s 60th Birthday!
25. What were you thinking? – Catherine Jayne
26. Good Knight!
27. Slightly more than Necessary
28. The Exotic Lady
29. 100 Stories – Limebird Writers
30. Dancing in the Rain
31. Sally’s Plan
32. My Best Friend
33. Up to the Challenge
34. Garlic?
35. The Last Word
36. Angler’s Rest
37. Isobelandcat

On Being 60 ….(LWILT#22)

.…or Last Week I Learnt That #22 – It Will Be fine!

On Thursday 26^th January 2012 I will be 60.

I don’t want to be 60! It is the only ‘BIG – 0’ that I’ve had a problem with. I have friends who went through quite major life crises when they reached those other milestones. I was fine with being 30, then 40 and even 50 had no fears. But 60!!

I’ve made myself think about what is different this time. I think it is all the ‘stuff’ that goes with it. Talks of pensions, discounts, bus passes and allowances. It’s having to move to the next age box when filling out a questionnaire. It’s the fear of Stanna Stair Lift adverts coming through the door along with mobility bikes! These things make me feel like I’m moving onto a different planet; being moved away from the rest of the world. I’ve talked to hubby about it (he’s a Spring chicken at 56!) and said I won’t apply for things like a rail card or reduced membership fees for the National Trust. That way I won’t have to acknowledge it!

However, during my party which was a Chinese meal with 15 very good friends(take a look at my cake!), I realized that 60 is now the new 40. They tell me I don’t look like a 60 year old. I certainly don’t feel like I imagined I’d feel when I got here. I suppose I have some family history baggage that gets in the way. Sadly I lost my mum, dad and elder brother when they were 61 so I’m sure somewhere in my psyche there is the fear that I’ve not got long to go.

My other brother is fighting fit at 70 though so I’m concentrating on him and hoping to visit him in New Zealand before too long. In the meantime, I will take advantage of the ‘silver offers’. No doubt I’ve paid for them over the years. I have also issued an invitation for another party in 2022. Pop it in your diary and do come along and join me!!

How do you deal with the passing years? Was there one BIG number that scared you?

Silent Sunday!

Weekly Photo Challenge – Simple!

From a distance, this is just a large ball of stone – simple. When you get closer though you can see that it is a globe with all sorts of markings on it - places, distances, longitudes, oceans and latitudes. The ‘simple’ stone ball can be seen on the Durlston Country Park walk in Dorset.

Being Cheeky – Again!

Well Dear Reader, you will know my penchant for straying out side the rules; taking things a little ‘left field. Here I go again! The theme for the gallery this week is ‘Eyes’ and the lettter for Alphabe is ‘I’!! Too much of a temptation I’m afraid.

Here is my contribution

It is a ‘Hook and Eye’ that I got as a spare. I know, I know, I know – that was not what was asked for but…a spare for what you ask!

It was my excuse to show you this….

My silly ‘evening coat’ that my Darling hubby bought me for my up-coming birthday. Don’t fret, no animal gave up it’s life for this garment but the acrylic polyester community is mourning a loss of millions!

Now pop over to Tara’s for the Gallery then over to Jenny’s for Alphabe. Go!