Sandra and Michelle's 40th Birthday Party

Last night saw what could have been described as a celebrity gathering, if any real celebrities were actually there. Instead we took it upon ourselves to dress up all fancy like, and be somebody else for the night. All was in celebration of Michelle and Sandra's 40th birthdays. So here we were in Hebden Bridge, in a small room above the Stubbin Wharf pub, a dancing and a feeding, a chatting and laughing. Catching up with familiar faces from our respective past, capturing digital snapshots for the future.

A slight hiccup caused me a slight embarrasment, when my laptop decided to shut down, it had become too hot from sitting on a paper tablecloth. A quick restart and a mouse converted into a temporary prop, allowed the music to continue (phew). I had also managed to create a slideshow of images, and had them projected large form, for people to gape at and giggle. you can see some of them in the background, of the video at the end of this entry.

The highlight of the evening was the floorshow, when Michelle and Sandra, dressed up as the Anadin Brothers from Dr & the Medics, performed a choreographed jig and swirl to 'Spirit In The Sky'. Everyone who had come as somebody else excelled in their attire, 2 Elvis's (or Elvii), Meat Loaf, Cher, Captain Sensible, Bananarama, Avril Lavigne, Mama Cass, John & Yoko to name but many. Eventually the evening came to a close and we all slinked back to our regular existance, but images remain to remind us of an unforgetable night.

click here for gallery of pictures

Strawberry Duck - October 2008

As Kirsty and Pla had ventured north to mark the event that was Kirsty's 40th birthday, we decided to meet up and drink beer, the location for this mass consumption would be the Strawberry Duck, former venue for many a drunken night out. The Duck was one of the only pubs in the area at which you had a wide variety of real ale, and for our return visit, we hoped that this would still be the fact. Luckily for us it was still home for many an oddly monikered ale of three.

Those attending this cold wet evening would be Pla, Kirsty, Kieran, Sandra, Myself, Lee and Gillian (Sandra's sister), she had nothing better to do and is taking the picture.

Merriment and consumption of ale began, continued though a game of musical chairs, well we moved from one room to another, and ended via the train back to Blackburn in the Napier. Fortunately this pub had quite a few more fellow drinkers than the Duck, a bit sparse was the Duck, the barstaff nearly outnumbered the patrons.

gallery

The Big 40

Finally here, so here are a few pictures for you to laugh at.

I am nearly 40

Counting down, three weeks to go.....

Time is a relative construct, and so must be our age. Maturity, wisdom, factors on how we face the world. Either an old head on young shoulders or young on old. It's all a state of mind.

I don't think i am trying to validate the fact that i will be 40 soon, but i don't feel 40. Yes i am losing a bit of hair, and yes i do have a bit of a belly, but mentally i don't feel 40. New people i have met and become friends with all say i don't look 40 ( i hope they are telling the truth and not just being polite). But the fact remains, i will be and there is nothing you or i can do to change that.

I see guys older than me trying desperately hard to stay looking young. Hair dye, clothes, i am sorry look your age, or at least don't make a fool out of yourself. Yes i used to dye my hair, and wear wild and wacky clothes, but that was when i was much younger, and i am not saying that we must adopt the pipe and slippers just yet. If you must wear clothes that you think make you look younger, do it with a bit of pride, someone may well be laughing at you, or think you are on some fancy dress do.

Some say life begins at 40, but my life started when i was born, and will end when i die. it's how you live your life, that's what matters. Make good friends, look after your family, and enjoy yourself. It's the only one you've got.

Unless you are immortal that is.