48 ....38...28...18...8 .....

A couple of days ago was my 48th birthday ..... I had a lovely day and thought back on several years of birthdays in the past. So thought I would share this:

On 20th March 1973 - Aged 8 years old ...

1. I was at Bedford Road Lower School - My best friends were Diane Kramer & Jackie Wood(s) 
2. I would  visit my Granny on a Saturday morning and Gran on a Friday evening for tea
3. I collected "whimsies" animal ornaments, from our local shop with my 20p pocket money - they cost 10p!
4. I had a hamster - called Hammy
5. I watched Black Beauty, Fingerbobs and Blue Peter on TV
6. I listened to whatever music Mum and Dad did .......... and Terry Wogan!
7. There had been 2 IRA bombs exploded in London ... I was beginning to understand the news and why Mum and Dad watched it
8. I received my first proper diary, the Christmas before my birthday, and started writing a few things down
9. That year we went to Wales on holiday ... I think it was to Carmarthen
10.  Later that year ... in September ... I started at my new school - Bedford High School

On 20th March 1983 - Aged 18 years old .....what a difference a decade can make...

1. I was in my last year at Bedford High School - My best friends were Sarah Newman and Jenny Landmann
2. I had discovered "The Crown" and all it's "biker" glory ! Where I met all my future partners !
3. I had an allowance of £20 a month (or about that I think)
4. I had 2 Guinea Pigs .... Pixie and Piper .... although I think Pixie may have died around that time
5. I watched The A Team, BlackAdder and The Young Ones on TV
6. I listened to Soft Metal .... and Genesis, Queen, Pink Floyd, Status Quo, and some older "hippy" music
7. The pound note was replaced by a pound coin !!!
8. I went on holiday with Scotty, Greg, Steve and Mark to Sandy Bay in Devon (brilliant)
9. In May of that year I started going out with Mark
10. Later on that year I started work at Granada TV Rentals where the friendships I made there have lasted and saw me through tough times.

On 20th March 1993 - Aged 28 years old .......

1. I was married to Mark and a Mum of 2 beautiful little girls and heavily pregnant with Daniel
2. Mark had been unemployed for a while due to a recession but we had a lovely daily routine with the children
3. Money was tight but we got by in our one bedroomed flat with the help of family and friends
4. We had 2 cats - Huey and Dewey (We had given Louie to our neighbours and Huey was handicapped!)
5. We watched  Star Trek Next Generation, Cracker, X Files (still on a huge wide TV)
6. I still listened to Soft Metal - Bon Jovi ..... but generally more Nursery rhymes !!!
7. Unemployment fell for the first time since May 1990 sparking hopes that this recession is over. Mark was doing well at Job Club and later that year we found out he had been accepted onto a programming course.
8. We didn't have a holiday that year with Mark ...... he died that August ...... but our good friends Steve & Nikki took me and the 3 children to the Yorkshire Dales 6 weeks after Mark died - we needed it !!!
9. 25th August 1993 my world collapsed - different life events lead a person in many different ways but this is always the one I end up back with.
10. I found out how blessed we were as a family with so many family and true, true friends rallying around - too many to mention but all equally as valued.

On 20th March 2003 - aged 38 years old .... 

1. We lived in our home now - I was with someone but the relationship was flawed, the children were 10, 12 and 14 that year.
2. I used to go clubbing most weekends - my close friends were Debbie and Elaine but The Granada crew and Nikki & Steve were always there.
3. We had regular Friday fish n chips and Sunday Lunch at Mum & Dad's
4. We had Scamp - a cat bought for me by my ex - Laurie.
5. We watched Big Brother, I'm a Celebrity, Spooks and most of the Disney channels !
6. We listened to Bon Jovi, Savage Garden, Blink 182 and many of Jessica's choices.
7. The Iraq war had begun - in fact on my birthday the British troops first landed.
8. We went to DISNEYLAND Paris that year, the kids and Mum and I in November for the Fireworks. It was fantastic!
9. Later that year I ran a 5K challenge and the lack of support from my partner of the time clinched the recognition that I had to end the relationship
10. I started my own business - the Nanny agency and had more time to spend with the children !

On 20th March 2013 - Aged 48 years old .....Wow - how life does change !

1. I still live in the wonderful home that Mark "picked" but never got to live in, with my husband Greg.
2. 2 of my children have moved out with their own babes.
3. I have a collection of bells and elephants !
4. We have 2 dogs - Harley and Kenzi
5. I watch Neighbours, Home and Away (both of which actually I have watched since the 80's !) and CSI
6. I don't listen to much music .... don't know why .... did put on savage garden the other day and loved it
7. The 2nd recession within my lifetime is still going on - double dipped and probably going to triple dip !
8. I may not get chance to go on Holiday this year - but last year we went on a cruise to Panama Canal 
9. The world has changed considerably with the internet and world wide web
10. I am very comfortable - money still tight but lifestyle great with part time working and school holidays

None of us know what is round the corner ...... none of us can predict the choices we make and in what direction they will lead us .... but generally I hope for all my friends and anyone reading this that life brings more of the happier surprises than the sad and though I may not make another 48 years .... I hope for at least another 30 !!!