For over twenty five years, I have take the view that “middle age starts next year”. On the eve of my 60th birthday, I have at last decided that middle age starts at midnight.
Actually quite a strange feeling. I quite liked my 40th birthday. I was married with two young children and enjoying my job. My 50th birthday I had a major health issue with serious surgery being considered which cast a shadow over the years immediately before May 2002.
In 2002, I became a grandfather for the first of three occasions. And I think this re-juvenated me. As indeed did finally retiring in 2005.
This birthday seems oddly nostalgic. I have been thinking a lot about the seven people with my family name….who would have been happy on 10th May 1952. All now dead. As more sadly is one of my three grandchildren. Yet tomorrow night I wil be in a local hotel for a meal with a differen seven people who share my family name. …my wife, my sons, my daughters-in-law and my two surviving grandsons.
I have been twice blessed. Born into a loving family is a great blessing. Helping to create a loving family was a second blessing. And watching the children I helped to create, live by decent values is an ongoing blessing.
And of course, the wonderful Translink Smart Card which gives me free travel on public transport all over Norn Iron is a blessing.
Keeping An Eye On the Czar of Russia 
Happy Birthday Mr Fitz!
Lovely post
ps: Try to have the bloody card ready when the Bus pulls up so you dont have to fooster in 25 pockets to find it !!!!!!!!!
Thank you! Thank you!
But I intend to take my time when getting on a bus/train. There is no point in being old if I cant annoy people.
Fitzy, happy birthday and keep up the good work.
He does 🙂
Cheers Sammy
All the best wishes for tomorrow (ye old bull ye)… and thrice amen to that gospel!
Go raibh maith agatsa
Mick, you could provide the occasional link to Fitzy’s fledgling site?
Fitzy,
re. “He does”
Are you saying there is a link form Slugger to here – link to the link?
ps Slugger ban does not prevent me browsing.
I think there have been two occasions when Mick has picked up a story from here and set up a link on Slugger. On both occasions it produced an increased traffic flow. And most seem to have stayed around. Certainly when the first one was published it was my single best viewing day. And the two are probably still in the Top 10 viewing days. Since then this Blog has kinda taken off but those two links were important.
Belated birthday greetings. I love the use to which you plan to put your Translink pass, reviewing MLA offices. Quite brilliant. I’m nearly jealous you thought of it first! Hope you had a lovely meal with your family.
Thank you Alan. The family meal was great.
And a fantastic “surprise” party on Saturday night.
I cant actually believe I fell for some of the “fibs” my beloved family told me. On their own each fib was entirely plausible but put together, I should have spotted something was in the air.
The “MLA Office” idea has been in my head for a while….usually because some are found in unlikely places. The Translink pass is handy ……not just because its free but because I myself am unlikely to know where I will be until I get there.