Sunday Musings On A Birthday Week

~ beetleypete

Anyone who has read my blog this week will already be aware that I was 70 years old on Wednesday. My week started on Monday, so this is the last day of celebrations. Given how much I have celebrated already, I think a quiet day will be the decent thing to do.

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It has been a great week indeed. Two meals out, a trip to a nature reserve, and lots of nice gifts and cards received. After Wednesday, the weather improved too, and it has been lovely and sunny since. Then last night, it was rounded off in style. Julie took me to a restaurant in North Tuddenham, having arranged for my four step-children and two of their partners to come too. So we had a table for eight, a very nice family celebration, and I had a ’70’ balloon! I received more gifts and cards on the night, along with the news that all of Julie’s children have given some money so that we can go out again soon, and enjoy another meal on them. There was also a box of twelve 70th-birthday themed cupcakes, home-made.
This has been my best birthday week ever!

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Of course, the world news is far from encouraging, and the situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate. I confess that the last thing I expected to be happening in my 70th year was a new war in Europe. And just when I am at my lowest income since I left school, the price of everything has sky-rocketed. Oh well, no point complaining about that. The rich have always got richer, and the rest of us poorer. Just read any history book.

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Ollie’s moult has to be seen to be believed, with his fur all over the house necessitating daily vacuuming more seriously than usual. We are trying to get him booked in to the dog-groomer next week, as a good wash and brush up will take care of at least some of the shedding fur.

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Regular readers will also be aware that I still don’t have my renewed driving licence. (Sorry regulars, here I go again.) Next week marks the beginning of my first full week of not being able to drive legally until my licence is sorted out. I am trying not to be too annoyed about that, but it’s not easy.

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I hope you all have a lovely Sunday. And if you can, go for a drive somewhere nice. You will appreciate the freedom of being able to do that, believe me.

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63 thoughts on “Sunday Musings On A Birthday Week”

  1. Dear Pete,

    unfortunately my computer gave me problems for a long time and I couldn’t really use it.
    That’s why I’m just getting in touch today.

    Belatedly I wish you all the best for your 70th birthday.
    It seems you had a great week.
    All the best for you. Irene

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  6. It sounds like an excellent way of closing your birthday week, Pete. Things aren’t looking great in the big scheme of things, but let’s enjoy what we can, and thanks for sharing the celebrations with us. (I have a driving license but no car here, and not very practical in a big city, although I miss going for a drive now and then, but not around here!) I was going to ask for a pic of Ollie after his new haircut, but I know he is camera-shy. Fingers crossed this week brings some good news!

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    1. He doesn’t have his fur trimmed at the groomer. His is not that kind of coat. He just has a hand-strip of fur, a bath, toenails cut, and ears cleaned. As it turned out, she cannot fit us in at the moment, so I have resorted to brushing him as often as I can. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  7. (1) “This has been my best birthday week ever!” But don’t forget about Julie driving the river to Fakenham. (If only you two had ridden a white river horse!)
    (2) Prices that skyrocket, and rockets that fall from the sky over Ukraine.
    (3) Fur heaven’s sake, Ollie!
    (4) At least you can watch Julie and your hard disc drive.
    (5) I’m reading this post on Monday. We drove to Lake Mead (I emailed you two photos of the hike in White Owl Canyon) and Boulder City (brew pub, antique shops). So I went on a wonderful drive (and hike)…Monday.

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  8. Happy Birthday, Pete. My father’s birthday was on Sunday, so from afar I celebrated along with family. Yours sounds great with Julie’ planning ~ a perfect weekend and time to reflect on it all 🙂

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    1. This was a very well-organised birthday, Theo. The last time that happened was when I was 50, and Julie took me to Rome. Before that, when I was 40, I also had a great week, but that was all my preparation. So 70 takes the prize!
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  13. It makes me happy to think of your very happy birthday. What thoughtfulness you enjoyed-and deserved as you are always thinking of others. Now, I certainly understand the concept of less money and everything being more expensive than ever. I wish I could write more, but alas it may offend someone! x Michele

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  15. What a bountiful week you’ve had, Pete. It is always nice to be remembered and celebrated. Our weather is warmer and sunnier, but the winds have been fierce so we have been tucked in at home. I hope the coming week brings you good news about your license. I would be so annoyed.

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  16. It was a wonderful week for you, in spite of not getting your driver’s license yet. I’m sure it will be sorted out soon. The family meal sounds wonderful.
    “Birthdays are good for you.
    Statistics show that
    people who have the most
    live the longest.”

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  21. Time spent with a loving family is always rewarding, I find, anyway; one of the few compensations of the second lockdown for me was being able to spend invaluable time with my daughter, her husband and new baby. Enjoy your quiet day, Pete 😀 Cheers, Jon.

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  22. My quality of life is much improved since I finally stopped driving seventeen years ago. Of course it helps that I live in a city with good public transport and an ever-expanding network of bicycle lanes.

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    1. Ah, there lies the rub. I live in a rural village with no cycle lanes, no shops, and four miles from the nearest town on fast country roads with no pedestrian paths. Driving is the only real option, or walking across fields for 70 minutes each way if the weather is suitable.
      Thanks for your comment, Nemorino.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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    1. Thanks, Peggy. I gave myself a week away from Ukraine news to celebrate my birthday, but of course you can never forget a war raging in Europe, and the future implications of that.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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    1. Thanks, Stevie. After a busy week, I think I will just take Ollie for a long walk in the sunshine, then do nothing. 🙂
      (Julie could drive us somewhere, but that’s not the same as just ‘jumping in the car’ myself.)
      Best wishes, Pete.

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