Things to do before I'm 60....

[Daisy]

In my case it is before I'm 70. We plan to go to NZ to visit DS1 and new grandchild due in August (God willing), although we do not have anything planned due to dog commitments, but I am only doing that because I want to see them. After that I would be quite happy to come straight home
I know travelling can be wonderful and I know people that go on holiday several times a year and love it. The whole idea just leaves me cold and I am not sure why unless I am the most boring person in the world which may be the case. I love being at home and am really quite content with my lot overall although there are a few people I would like to change but I know that is impossible.

BL, I can understand the urge to travel to see your family and meet your new grandchild when he/she arrives. Although I'd like to travel to some specific places, I'm also quite content at home, except that I do need a break of domesticity which doesn't come easily to me! At themoment we seem to have a lot of friends who are ill or dealing with and supporting an OH who is ill, and it makes me realise that time is not exactly on my side. If I want to do something, I'd better get a move on while I can! However, like you, we have a dog to think about as well. At least in the UK we could probably take him with us!

[ZIZI]

One thing I would like to do is visit the house that was born in. My grandparents lived in the house from shortly after it was built. It was then two flats owned by the council. After the war my grandparents bought the whole house and rented the top flat out. I was born in the"front room" on a "put u up" in between my dad's military postings. My grandfather died in February 1974 just a few months before my son was born. My grandmother sold the house in 1980 for £189k, a huge amount of money in those days. It sold a few years ago for a little under £800K. it was basically a three bedroomed terrace house with an outside loo and not a proper bathroom.

The road it is in is near Twickenham Green, coveted address for those who can afford it, but th road itself is ver small and parking is a nightmare around there, there is not even enough room for two cars to pass each other.

I would like to go and see what the house looks like now. In the past I have written letters to the owners but never posted them.

[Glammanana]

Some wonderful experiences ladies, mine would now have to be before I am 70 (ekk am I that old I don't feel it !!) we did the moving abroad experience when we where in our early 50s and it was a good nearly 10years it was a thing we wished for for years and finally achieved it after youngest DS moved away from home when he joined the Armed Forces, I have on my list a visit to China which I would love to do and also go to Glastenbury Festival
one year, I would also like my youngest son and his wife have their first baby but I don't hold out much hope as they love travelling abroad to far off places and so they should whilst they are young,I want to enjoy life with no health problems as I think this year I have had my fair share and hope my friends enjoy the same.

[Daisy]

I would like to go and see what the house looks like now. In the past I have written letters to the owners but never posted them.

Zizi - Have you thought of just turning up on the doorstep? My SIL was desperate to see the home she lived in until she was about 7 and when she came over from America last year she and her OH went to visit. The house was undergoing renovations and the owner happened to be there. I don't know how old the house was - it was the Vicarage in SIL's day, probably early Victorian. At first the owner was a bit suspicious but SIL commented on a feature at the front which had changed and he realised she was genuine. He took her round the house and was delighted that she was able to solve several 'mysteries' about how the house looked and functioned originally. He's since sent her updates on what they've done to the house.

A couple of years ago we found ourselves near to the house in Bedfordshire we lived in when DS2 was born. We only intended to look at the outside and take a photo so show our sons, but the next door neighbour came out! I quickly explained I wasn't casing the joint, and he said it was a pity the family were out at the moment or else he was sure they would have invited me in, but he invited me in to his house so I could have a look at the back garden of our old place.

So you never know, it's worth a try.

[ZIZI]

I think I have decided to send a letter. My birthday lunch is in the toilets on Twickenham Green, well not really the toilets, it is a restaurant in the building that used to be the loo. I have so much history there. Born literally down the road, lived in a flat in the same road when son was born, my Brither and I went to schools (infant and junior) on the green between dad's army postings, Mum and dad got married in the church on the green where I was also baptised, son was baptised there, son went to a nursery next to the church and he took his first steps on the Green.

In addition to theNewcastle trip I am being taken to a posh London hotel and we are going to "Beautiful" which is the Carole King story at the theatre. I soooo wanted to see that. I asked last night if we could look on the late booking site next weekend and see if there were tickets for it. He left the room and came back with a printed document wit the hotel and the theatre tickets on it.m Said he was fed up with me keep asking if we could see it. Hopeless at keeping secrets! He has some other things up his sleeve as I am banned from opening any parcel that comes if I haven't ordered it. if I nag enough he will probably tell me, no I am not going to, I would like a surprise on the day.

My dil (Ben's mummy) will not be at my birthday lunch as she has gone freelance and is going to be flying to Ghana for a commercial film shoot on that day. She has apologised but I told her she has to make a living and we will catch up when she gets back. She will be paid £5k for five days out there (plus of course all the other work on either side of the five days).

[Nanto2girls]

it sounds like your birthday is going to be a brilliant affair ZIZI.

[ZIZI]

I might need a week off afterwards ...

[Plantaholic]

It is getting close Zizi, lots to look forward to