55

Tomorrow my sister and I shall be fifty five.
Fifty-fucking-five!
55! 
Five score years and five! 
In Welsh pum deg pump!

Bloody Hell......where did the time go?
It seems only like a minute and a fart away, I was finishing school. From there with hips like a snake I became the " worst bank clerk in North Wales "  before I entered a nursing career as a student psychiatric nurse with bad dress sense and a full head of brown hair.
A squeak later I was in York -North Yorkshire, finding all about sex,and fun and exciting salad days with friends.... before settling down in Sheffield with a mortgage, cats and some bad choices in men!
I worked hard in a career, earned my own ward eventually was lucky enough to meet the man I was eventually going to marry and suddenly we were embracing life in a small Welsh village with dogs and chickens and pigs and ducks with me working part time work on intensive care.

And now we enter another scene in our life movie. My hair is greying on the sides and thinning on the top. My waistline is less snakehips and more buffalo arse (even though I have recently lost 28 lbs)! and in a handful of shifts, I officially retire from work and will turn my face to the sun of a new chapter in our lives where we move onwards and upwards.

Fifty five tomorrow! How exciting!
I feel energised and so positive about what is going to happen,
Even though I still can fart like a machine gun when I bend over

I'm the gay one on the left





112 comments:

  1. Many happy returns for tomorrow. How lovely to have such a positive outlook on life - exciting times ahead. Wish you all the happiness for your future.

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  2. Happiest of birthdays to you and J ......I can't believe how young looking she is for pum deg pump....

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  3. age ain't nothing but a number, young man! and so much life to hope for!

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  4. Happy bday for tomoz x.
    P.s You don't look a day over 54 hehehe x

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  5. Happy Birthday for tomorrow and Congratulations on the next step. I share your excitement. Hubby and I turned 60 in Feb, I have retired and he retires in September. Next summer we head off to Shetland for a new life and adventure.

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  6. Happy Birthday for tomorrow. Like you it seems only yesterday that I was 18 with a curly perm and a size 14 body that I thought was too fat ... apart from the size 14 I would not go back though. I'm more confident, happier and more at ease with myself than I've ever been. The best is yet to come, John - and I hope you'll keep blogging about it!

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  7. You may ask yourself the same question in 20 years time.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN (for tomorrow)

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  8. Speaking as a three score and tenner (2.5 years older even than Jeremy Corbyn, for goodness sake!), I'd give an awful lot to be your age. Why, you are a mere chit of a child!
    But I DO know what you mean. One never really appreciates what one has, physically, until one starts to lose it. But you've still got a long way to go. I read only this morning someone positing that "80 is the new 50!" If that's true then you're just a stripling of 25. So there you are - get back on that disco floor and twirl! (If they'll let you in!)

    Many happy ones for the morrow and I hope that the other half gives you an agreeable surprise - perhaps a new puppy! :-)

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    1. Hadn't noticed your innocent clanger, J.G., on what a score was. Just seen certain comments below. So now you know.
      Btw: In Germany 55 is a special age making the birthday an extra-special one - just like ages of 22, 33, 44, 66 etc. But as you don't live there it hardly matters.

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  9. Anonymous11:03 am

    I did not realise you and your sister were twins. I have to do it, you know. Are you identical twins? Happy birthday, and as the photo indicates, it was ordained.

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  10. A very happy birthday, John! With you retiring this year, you'll be into the next wonderful chapter of your life. I adore the picture of the two of you on the beach. -Jenn

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  11. Happy Birthday! I'll soon be 61 (AAARGH!!!), and can tell you that retirement is a beautiful thing!

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  12. I think your maths is a little out. Three score years and ten is 70.

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  13. On June 1st 1962, "Good Luck Charm" by Elvis Presley was top of the hit parade:-

    Come on and be my little good luck charm
    Uh-huh huh, you sweet delight
    I want a good luck charm
    A-hanging on my arm
    To have, to have, to hold, to hold tonight.

    Please don't take this literally!

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    Replies
    1. hee hee hee! I was 8 years old then and not into elvis.

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  14. Hope tomorrow is the start of the best year yet for you, John. Happy New Year!

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  15. Happy Birthday to you & your sister, John. Hope you have a wonderful days & thousands more!

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  16. Well done on the weight loss! Are you doing anything special for your Birthday? Will the Prof retire when you do? Questions, questions so many questions.........:)

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  17. Happy Birthday! Welcome to the the next adventure in life. That is the best baby picture I have ever seen!

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  18. Thank you for the chuckle on your black n white picture - loved it. Yes I too will be fiftyfeckinfive in a couple of weeks. 'What the Actual Fuck' as my daughter says. A hop skip and a ladylike belch ago I was a pocket venus working in the British Railways Board (for was so) Typing Pool. Yes them pre-computer days, damn their binary eyes. Have a damn fine birthday tomorrow and congrats also on the weight loss *fistbump*.
    Susan xx

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  19. Happy birthday John!

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  20. Happy birthday for tomorrow to you and your sis, John. What are you going to do to mark the occasion? (for it is quite a momentous one). I had a tattoo - well, 2 actually, much to my husband's surprise - on the eve of my 49th birthday a few years back....I thought 'well if I don't do it now, I'll never do it!'. Do something out of the ordinary, you've earned the right.

    My husband retires tomorrow, we're so looking forward to our new life starting, as you will be for the new chapter in yours and the Prof's lives.

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    Replies
    1. Duh, that should have been 'on the eve of my 50th birthday'.....blonde moment.

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  21. Enjoy a very Happy Birthday John . . .
    Delightful "tomorrow I will be" time line post . . .
    Love the beach photo of you and your sis!

    (I was thinking back yesterday on what was the BEST time, birth year in my life. And my 50th Birthday flashed through HAPPY. 55, 60 and on I sailed . . . "the best is yet to be" . . . I will be 78, 7 days from tomorrow.).

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  22. Happy Birthday for tomorrow. I know how you feel, I turned 57 last Friday and I don't know how that happened either. The Friday before, on our wedding anniversary, my first grandson was born so now not only am I 57 but also a proud grandparent. I look forward to hearing how you celebrate tomorrow and the countdown is heading towards your final shift.

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  23. John.. I'm right jealous of your young age AND extremely jealous of your impressive weightloss. Your looking good on both counts..have a great Birthday..Cheers with a champers.. Elle

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  24. As five score years and five = 105, you're doing very well indeed!!

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    Replies
    1. O thought a score was ten years? Well you learn something everyday!

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  25. Wishing you all the best on your birthday and imminent retirement! Where does the time go, eh?

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  26. Happy Birthday chicken, have a good one. Love your positivity on life and change, congrats on your weight loss too xx

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  27. Why ... just the other day, you were a little whippersnapper ! And now look at you, all grown up and ready to turn the world upside down :)
    Happy Birthday John, you deserve all sorts of Happy.
    Lots of birthday love coming to you from the land of sunshine ..
    C ( who will always be older than you )

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  28. Happy Birthday John! Congrats on the weight loss as well.

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  29. Happy birthday! Well done on the weight loss, and wishing you a wonderful day & a bright future.

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  30. You young man you! I think I remember when I was 55!
    All the best to you and Janet!
    Loved that photo....a dead give-away!

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  31. That's a cute photo. Happy birthday for tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement/new life, time whizzes by when you're having a good time.

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  32. happy birthday john! i just turned 60 fucking 5. i'm starting to rot.

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  33. A very Happy Birthday to you and your sister!

    55 seems quite a young age to retire. When I was around that age, I did resign from the paralegal work I'd done for over 20 years, and gave myself a 4-year sabbatical, during which I drew and painted every day. When the stock market which had been funding this fun had its fall, I returned to work in a totally different field, fashion retail, for another 15 years. Last year I really and truly retired.

    I'm hoping you will be enjoying your new opportunities as much as I have mine. xo

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  34. Happy Birthday John! I am not far behind, just a few more clicks.

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  35. Happy birthday, you darling man! May the rest of your years (which shall surely equal the ones you've lived so far) be filled with all good things, especially love and...humor.

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  36. Happy 55th John.....it's a great age and...you'll be 'freedom 55' in just a few days. What larks.

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  37. the 50s were a good decade. took me til 65 to accept the next.

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  38. Just a whipper-snapper.

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  39. Happy Birthday from the other side of the pond and the other side of 60. May the best be yet to come! Never stop blogging - you are so often the bright spot in my morning.

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  40. Wishing you a very happy birthday and many, many happy returns of the day!
    As my old grain used to say "every day above ground is a good'un" :)

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    Replies
    1. Bloody auto correct. That should read Gran not grain.........

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  41. Enjoy your year of 'Double Nickels'

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  42. Way to go...have the happiest

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  43. And you think time's gone fast up to now?

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  44. Happy 55th birthday. I arrived there last December.

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  45. Happy Birthday my friend! 55 is the new 40, you know. Enjoy!

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  46. Happy Birthday John. And may you have many more! Enjoy your day tomorrow and Happy Birthday to your sister.

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  47. My husband and I retired at 50 and both began new interests and a new life together. I love the fact that you have made plans to expand your talent for writing.If you use your humor and life experience it will be a success I am sure!

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  48. Happy Birthday to you John - and to your lovely sister too!!! I hope that you really enjoy whatever the next chapter is going to bring and that it will be lots of fun!!

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  49. Happy birthday to you and your sister! Time DOES fly.

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  50. Happy Birthday to both of you.

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  51. Happy Birthday John and sister. Hope your bits dont start falling off. xx

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  52. Happy Birthday for tomorrow xx
    (but you're actually 2 score years and 15, not 5 score years and 5)

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    Replies
    1. See above
      Ive been corrected ad nauseum

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  53. Happy birthday to you and your sister! Here's to many, many more happy years. :)

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  54. Happy Birthday, John & twin sister, and may you have many more! Your writing continues to be entertaining, your weight loss is inspiring, your retirement and next life chapter are looming - no wonder your joie de vivre comes through so strongly today :)

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  55. Good thing it isn't a medicine measure.

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  56. Many happy returns for tomorrow. Keep on keeping on and make every day of your life count. What am I saying ? You do that anyway.
    Jean

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  57. Happy Birthday John and Janet. Enjoy the day.

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  58. Happy birthday to you both John. It's funny isn't it, nobody wants to get old but for me at least hitting 57 was kinda "yippee" - the age at which I could take early retirement, if I could have afforded it. Divorce put the knackers on that but psychologically it was a very positive moment. Love the photo too. Have fun. Anna

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  59. Anonymous5:30 pm

    Best wishes John, hope you have a great day!

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  60. Happy Birthday, John!

    lizzy

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  61. You are a fortunate man, John Grey. To be able to retire at 55 is unheard of in the US. Here , we work longer and longer and hope we don't drop dead on our last day at the office.

    I found that my 50's were the best and most interesting years of my life. I hope the next five years (and those that follow) will be the same for you. Happy Birthday, dear John, and may love and laughter always be a part of your life.

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    Replies
    1. Younger nurses will now be penalized if they want to retire earlier now...many will have towork into their 60s
      Ward nursing after 60 ...i think its not safe........for the nurse)

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  62. Adore the photo and a Happy Birthday !
    Let there be cake !
    cheers, parsnip and thehamish

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  63. Happy Birthday 🎂 for tomorrow John n Janet, n hope you both have fab days :-D xx

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  64. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  65. You really haven't changed much from your picture above. Happy Birthday.

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  66. Happy birthday. You will love retirement.

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  67. This time next year john I will have you riding the lanes of north wales and you will be about 13 stone :) .....that's the goal !!

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  68. I grudgingly wish you a moderately happy birthday.

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  69. A very Happy Birthday John. 🎂 Xx

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  70. Happy B Day. More salad days to come when work is just a (bad) memory.

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  71. Happy Birthday to you both John, enjoy your day. xx

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  72. Congratulations, soon be 62 like me xxxx

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  73. Happy birthday, to you and your sister. That's a lovely photo of you, typically running whole-heartedly towards your objective (which may have been drowning if the truth be known!) Retirement will be a wonderful new adventure.

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    1. The nicest comment yet virginia...thank you

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  74. A very happy birthday to you both. Do you feel younger now for learning you aren't 105?

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  75. Happy birthday to you and your sister John.

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  76. thank you all for your best wishes!

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  77. Anonymous8:37 pm

    I'm 57 tomorrow so happy birthday to you and I'll raise a glass when the time comes.

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  78. Happy Birthday to you and your sister. From a soon to be 58 year old ward nurse.

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    1. You have my respect xx

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    2. Thank you. I came to nursing in my 40s, so will never have a full pension. I can't draw my provincial nursing pension until I'm 65. So, I'm aiming to work until 62 and then see what happens.

      I've moved to day surgery, sound softer but as you know, the patients have so many comorbidities, nothing is simple anymore.

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  79. Ah, another fellow Gemini! I knew it. You are still a young pup at 55, John. (I will be 70 on Saturday, the 3rd.) Enjoy your birthday--the best is yet to be!

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  80. Chuck? It appears I've undergone a sex change without knowing it, but my wishes remain the same!

    Melissa xoxo

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    Replies
    1. Lesson in Northern English
      " chuck" is a team of affection said by north/western Britons
      Xx

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    2. 'Cock' is a similar East London term of affection, but can be double-edged in these troubled times.

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    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    4. Nothing wrong indeed. (At least I think so. It's been awhile.) Thanks for the Northern English lesson. If you need any Central Texas What Passes for English lessons, just let me know, y'all.

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  81. Congratulations on losing two stone!

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  82. Happy Birthday John. Wow a lot of Geminis in your followers - mine is June 11 and turning 62. Will be spending mine in the sunshine of
    Ko Samui.

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  83. Happy birthday John!

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  84. Happy birthday! I retired 8 years ago at 59 and fully understand your excitement over this new phase. I looked it up on a conversion chart and 55 is only 12.8 Celsius.

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  85. Happy birthday to you both! You were adorable even then. I think you can expect (look forward to?) your farting talents to become more musical and even more staccato in the coming years.

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  86. Well done on the weight loss ... 28 lbs is brilliant.

    I'm two years older than you and I can honestly say it just keeps getting better, so don't worry ;-)

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  87. Happy Birthday, John. I wish I was 55 again. Wishing you a stellar day

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