Sunday, 18 January 2015

My birthday Jan 9th

A birthday cake


January 9th is my birthday. I was going to write up something about me and then, well we all know what occurred in Paris on that day. 
So I gave over my day and published something quite different to what I had planned. A reasonable amount of time has now passed and so I shall rekindle my thoughts.
On this birthday I became 72 years of age, although to be quite honest I am not convinced, of whether I am 27 or 72 because I actually feel like 35 and sometimes a bit younger. 
When I look in the mirror, which is not very often as I gave up shaving long ago, I wonder to which of my ancestors do I resemble. There is no answer and no photographs of either my father or his father at seventy-two for both died in their mid fifties. 
Their age of passing influenced me greatly, leading me to decide  in my early forties, to plan a life style change which would remove stress and give me the experience of total freedom. I chose this path in case I too had an early demise and so I retired early, in my forty-eighth year.
Life always throws up challenges and ironically within a few weeks of moving to my rural retreat, along came a entrepreneur who asked me to design an a piece of equipment for him - I stuck to my plan however and denied him, as did others and to my knowledge his idea never came to fruition. 
I did though make a return to employment - though not as a design engineer as I was previously, this time it was in Development Education as a Facilitator, a position that I greatly enjoyed and brought me into contact with some very interesting people. Folk who actually care and work towards improving the social and living conditions of people in our impoverished and mutilated world.
The above paragraph above brings me back as to why I published a comment from a former editor Philippe Val of Charlie Hebdo and why from time to time this blog highlights issues that disturb me greatly.



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24 comments:

  1. Mac n' Janet18 January 2015 at 14:48

    Happy Birthday. We followed your path and took early retirement too. Could have worked longer, made more money and been stressed every day. No amount of money can buy you time. I've been retired 11 years and I believe that they've been the happiest years of my life.

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    1. A Heron's View18 January 2015 at 14:51

      Thank you for your comments Janet, you are correct retirement is great and I now wonder how I found the time to work :)

      Delete
  2. Gwen Buchanan18 January 2015 at 15:41

    Happy special Birthday Mel... You have chosen a life that many wish to emulate. I wish you many more. It was also my maternal grandmother's birthday too.

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    1. A Heron's View18 January 2015 at 15:55

      Thank you for your generous comments Gwen and your grandmother must have been a wonderful person.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous18 January 2015 at 16:51

    Wishing you many more birthdays.
    So many people face a retirement full of regret at a life wasted. Blessing and hope for your future life well lived.

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    1. A Heron's View18 January 2015 at 17:01

      Thank you Irene, I have enjoyed and am still enjoying my life with no regrets.

      Delete
  4. Carol18 January 2015 at 20:26

    That cake looks amazing. So happy to hear your story of pursuing a simpler life - you and J are inspirations to me!

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    1. A Heron's View18 January 2015 at 21:07

      Carol, That's very nice of you to say that. J and myself really appreciate your words, many thanks.

      Delete
  5. Susan Heather19 January 2015 at 00:49

    I just love the look of that cake - yum. My hubby's birthday was the day following yours, 10th. He turned 85. The previous day when I visited him I didn't expect him to keep going much longer but he has rallied and may well celebrate his 95th.

    At the end of December I celebrated my 71st - on my 70th the previous year I decided it is the new middle age as I definitely do not feel old.

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    1. A Heron's View19 January 2015 at 10:52

      Hello Susan thank you for your observations, good to read about your husband and yourself. I rather think that ageing is all about our outlook.

      Delete
  6. Deb19 January 2015 at 06:44

    Happy Birthday Heron! :-)

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  7. ita19 January 2015 at 15:46

    Well happy 27th birthday...now you've got plenty of time to think of retirement. You might even 'grow-up' between this & then. :) XXX

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    1. A Heron's View19 January 2015 at 15:55

      Ah' thanks Ita !
      If you mean I am to grow up become deadly serious and dull - then I will stay as I am thanks :)

      Delete
  8. The Weaver of Grass19 January 2015 at 19:56

    Happy Birthday. Cake looks good - expect it is all eaten by now. On age (I am 82) keep thinking young and pretending you are 27 (I am 28 by the way) and some days you get to actually believe it.

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    1. A Heron's View19 January 2015 at 20:21

      Thank you Weave, am glad that you and I share a philosophy :)

      Delete
  9. Fran20 January 2015 at 05:48

    Happy Birthday Mel - having never met you in person, you have always had the voice of a much younger person and I would never believe you are 72. Age is but a number, they say and in you have obviously proved them right! Xxx

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    1. A Heron's View20 January 2015 at 11:24

      Thank you Fran and oh do keep massaging my ego it's Wonderful you know x

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  10. Fran20 January 2015 at 17:56

    I know the way to a man's heart 😉

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    1. A Heron's View20 January 2015 at 18:28

      Yes I imagine you would do :) x
      Switch on Skype there might be a message ??

      Delete
  11. snapdragon20 January 2015 at 21:19

    You have never acted your age Grandpa Heron, which we are very glad about x

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    1. A Heron's View21 January 2015 at 00:38

      I know dear Snapdragon and in doing so it brought much consternation to those stuffy pretentious beggars and still does ........ ha' ha' ha'
      Up the Rebels !

      Delete
  12. Cro Magnon22 January 2015 at 05:01

    Belated good wishes. I believe we most resemble our mother's mother; but I suspect that neither your, nor my, grandmother was blessed with a beard.

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    1. A Heron's View22 January 2015 at 09:28

      Thanks Cro !
      None of our old women had any visible facial whiskers :)

      Delete

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