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| Page 45 |
I am now another year older and hopefully a bit wiser. My colleagues surprised me at 9 am with a birthday cake bearing a few burning candles. Some of my gifts included: an electric toothbrush (Romeo), hand cream (Mini-Me), a notepad and a heartfelt, hand written letter (Dirtbag). Obviously my friends spoilt me too with some lovely thoughtful gifts.
Laugh along with me and pages 44-45 (how perfectly coincidental of my age change and name) from The Ladybird Book of The Mid-Life Crisis:
Suzy is at the hairdresser's.
She wants to look good because tonight she is going to a gabba all-nighter under a railway arch with her estranged daughter.
''Dye it blue, please,'' says Suzy.
Suzy is wondering which bra will best show off her new tattoo.
Shopping in Leeds and afternoon tea out with a special friend of mine was a great treat. It was a multi-sensory overload of sights, lights, sounds and sparkles in the freezing fog. At one point I actually thought I was in London being the country bumpkin that I am. Meanwhile, Romeo was out on the golf course seemingly in another country, as he was above the low cloud in beautiful winter sunshine. Heaven knows where the kids were?
We missed our connecting train back to Shepley by 3 minutes leaving us with a whole hour to kill in Huddersfield. So we decided to have a walk round our town which was quite a shock to the system after the safe hustle and bustle of the city. It was only 6.15 pm and the Christmas lights were on but I felt a bit unnerved passing by groups of hooded youths and the ambulance was already parked up outside Wetherspoons. We managed a quick circular walk, passing the beautiful tree outside the station with the statue of Harold Wilson standing stoically still behind, then entered the Head of Steam for a drink. I was certain we witnessed some dodgy street transaction between a man and a young woman and it's times like these that I wish I was not so observant.
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| Leeds |
The Cure provided a perfect remedy at Manchester Arena, especially as I was going out on a work night which made it even more exciting. I parked in a car park down a really disgusting litter filled side street, which was a brisk ten minute walk from the venue. As my a-ha mad friend and I weaved our way around the rubbish I found myself saying, 'You wouldn't get this in Qatar.' Well definitely not on the streets but upon the shores of the coastline were zillions of discarded plastic bottles, bags, nappies and sandals.
I was slightly unhappy to miss the early evening support act (this is a cryptic clue as to who they were??) but both being working girls and mothers we couldn't get there any sooner. The stage lighting was fab and the first song I heartily sang along to was The Walk followed swiftly by In Between Days and Lovesong, which is my favourite, before wandering off into A Forest. It was a mixed crowd and appeared full to capacity and I saw at least two people being dragged over the barrier from the mosh pit. My eyesight is still good even from up in the rafters, although I am trying to deny the possibility that I may need some reading glasses soon. Robert and the band looked quite sprightly and he had obviously spent ages doing his hair. We did discuss whether it could actually be a wig or not nowadays, given his age.
A giddy, middle aged dancing woman behind us suddenly stumbled, falling on top of me and my friend from this extreme height. With gravity on her side she grabbed onto the large silver hoop earring swinging in my left ear lobe, to steady her downfall. OUCH!!
Throughout the great two and a half hour gig there was a constant stream of people particularly on our row and the one in front that kept moving up and down and along. It was so annoying. Can't anyone sit still anymore? I danced as much as I could from the waist upwards, reminding myself how lucky I am to have full body function unlike many of the lovely students at school who are fastened safely in their wheelchairs. Dropping my friend off up our street just before midnight, I didn't need a Lullaby to send me to sleep. The third encore set was still playing in my head: Friday I'm In Love, Boys Don't Cry, Close To Me and Why Can't I Be You.
Exactly a week later I find myself in the village church hall listening to the Shepley Singers, enjoying their harmonies reverberating in this place where I went to playgroup as a child, then Brownies and Guides. I even had my 'Surprise' 40th party here just before we left for the desert. How ecstatic was I to win two adult tickets for the Spring Festival next year in the raffle. Brilliant!
I am without doubt in full Christmas mode having enjoyed carol services and Nativity performances at both school and church. I smiled constantly as I pushed my wise man proudly onto the stage in his wheelchair while trying to balance the crown on his head. His parents were waving to him from the audience and by some small miracle I managed not to cry.
Everywhere I look there are decorated trees and twinkling lights which brighten up the grey skies.
'It's so dull Mum, I hate it here. I want to go back. I miss my friends,' says Mini-Me between sobs and anger outbursts.
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| Walking in a Winter Wonderland |
Facing a few friends who are sadly suffering some bereavement just now, I am once again reminded of how fragile we all are. Trusting these words from Kahlil Gibran can comfort us:
'Your joy is your sorrow unmasked
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises
was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper the sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.'
Obviously I have survived my works Christmas do or I wouldn't be typing this right now. If I can't see you or be with you in what's left of this year, know that I am thinking of you.
Hope to see you in 2017.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year! (I can just about say this in Makaton now too).
With Love xx
Reading: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Singing: Christmas carols and songs
Listening & dancing to:www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkCYh1x44G8
Watched: Jason Bourne (2016), Scrooged (1988), Rise of The Guardians (2012) and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) in 3D
