It’s that time of the year again. Time to gaze into the navel of my birthday and give thanks to the past year. This isn’t quite as epic a milestone as last year obviously but it’s still been a pretty sweet ride.
40 has been good to me. I’ve done a lot of cool things, including two trips, fallen in love with Margate and spent a lot of time with a lot of good people. I’ve made some great new friends, enjoyed time with old ones – I’ve had fun at work, put myself forward for a new role which didn’t work out (but I’m quite pleased about that). I’ve been creative, I’ve been lazy – I’ve spent a lot of money, faced some fears, cried some tears. It’s been a well-rounded year and I’m grateful for it.
I love my life and even when I put myself down for being old (every single day of my life), I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m a wise woman with a wealth of life experience and better still, I’m still learning every day. I might be who I am but there’s always room to undulate and grow.
Here’s to reaching Level 41 tomorrow. I can only hope that it’s as eventful and as fun as the last.
A Voluptuous Mind turned 3 on Friday so welcome to the annual birthday post! I’m probably just going to freestyle this bad boy rather than follow any sort of structure this year which is part laziness/part not really having my head in the game – but I think that’s cool. (See previous years 1 & 2).
So! Three, eh? I wish I could remember what I was doing at three. I had a newish baby brother so back then that would have been the most exciting thing going down in my world. If we could time travel back, you would probably find me obsessed with two things: Papa Smurf and Wonder Woman. Unless that came just a little bit later in life. Remembering is hard, man.
But three is a good old age. It’s the age that people start telling you kids get interesting, with more defined personalities. I feel the same way about this blog in some ways. I’ve always had a voice sure, but since I stopped worrying about not having a ‘theme’ or definite manifesto, I’ve been having more fun.
I love the things I talk about and I think the only thing I really want to apply to future posts is more candidness. The things that have happened over the last fortnight with my Mother-in-Law have changed my outlook, I swear and I’m entering the next phase of life with a more devil-may-care attitude. All that means is more honesty, more carefully picked fucks and a shit ton more swearing – but I’m really looking forward to being more open.
Jill and I will continue to review films with more emphasis on the kind of movies that made us want to do this in the first place – the bad ones. Apart from that, no plans, just doing.
So here’s to A Voluptuous Mind’s Level 3 – I’m ready to kick some fucking arse, yo!
Now I have more time to celebrate, I bought myself a Red Velvet cupcake to inhale while I type this. Cake is always the best way to honour any anniversary, naturally. Last year I did quite the fantasy post but I don’t know if I have the mental capacity this evening to replicate it (hectic day). I’ll do my best.
To start, a few of my favorite posts over the last year:
Just a wee flavour of how things go down around here (if you’re new and have just inexplicably stumbled onto this very post – WELCOME!).
For the purposes of this post I figured I’d set myself a few blogging goals:
Schedule more posts – So that we don’t have a situation like this one, where absolutely nothing has been thought through… JK! Goofing aside, it’s a very nice feeling to know you’re on top of your ramblings and utilising your time like a motherfucking BOSS
Take better pictures – This Guy (me) has a new iPad and the camera is about 7568% better that the one on my scabby old phone so expect to be wowed by future imagery
Get better at commenting – I’ve been working on this but could always be better
And finally, if my mystery benefactor just happens to pass by and wants to gift me, I’ll take everything on the Skinnydip London website please. Like, absolutely everything.
To every single person who takes the time to read and comment, thank you. It means the world, it really does. The last year of blogging has been great, I’ve met amazing people, discovered some really great blogs and I can’t wait to put in more time around here.
Now, if you’ll excuse me – I’ve got a date with the rest of this cake ❤
Anyone else been having a tough couple of weeks? I know a couple of my nearest can attest to the bullshit of the last fortnight or so and I’m right there with them.
I’ve had some shitty tax themed worries hanging over my head (now sorted thankfully) plus the usual work stress but… it’s nearly November and that for me means ‘Birthday Month’, so I’m going to try and enjoy it.
There will be lots of nice things going on towards the end of the month but also next weekend (not this one, as I’m spending it cleaning, eating and sleeping), as Glynn has got us tickets to Brighton Film and Comic Con of all things!
The main draw for me is definitely George A. Romero, King of the Zombies (I can’t imagine him wandering around the hallowed streets of Brighton somehow) while my husband is excited about Spike from Buffy (I’m afraid I’ll lose friends when I admit I never really got into it). My dorky brother, meanwhile is beside himself about the appearance of Carl Weathers (of Predator/Rocky fame). So there’ll be something for everyone here.
Needless to say, the whole day is going to be a hoot. Sadly as a collective we’ve failed to agree on a theme for cosplay, so we’ll be going as civilians this time. If it’s really good, I fully intend to get into a costume for 2016.
Birthdays have always been a bit weird for me, I never really enjoyed them until I was with Glynn. He gets more excited about other people’s birthdays than they do and it’s so sweet. So now I can’t help getting carried away with the excitement. Work’s always a massive crack too, thanks to my amazing colleagues so hopefully we’ll have a good one this year.
I’ll be 38 fucking years old. 38 – nearly four decades, count them. That’s rather a good age I would say, so I’m going to enjoy it and embrace who I am because well I’m not going to change any time soon now, am I? I might be a clumsy, over-apologetic stumpy fingered sugar addict but I am mine.
So that’s me today. Feeling a bit better after those horrific weeks, no longer worried about taxes, forgetting about work for a long weekend and just generally staring at my navel thinking about being old again.
I wasn’t sure how to celebrate this significant (to me) day but then I decided that maybe I would have a virtual birthday party right here and invite an array of fantasy guests to share cake with. Sounds legit, non?
On a serious note, this blog has been a real joy for the past 12 months. I’ve officially been blogging since 1st December 2004, which is a very long time. When I began, I had the username Wondy Woman (yes, I can still access it) and have since tried on a couple of different monikers (and blogs) for size. I think I’ll stick it out here now, it’s a good place to be.
My first foray into the world of blogging wasn’t really about quality writing and it wasn’t very introspective either, which means for years it wasn’t very deep. I hope that’s changed since. I have to thank my good friend, Paul (AKA Shocking Fish) for the push to set up a blog in the first place; and all the amazing friends I have made along the way.
Before we begin this virtual birthday party, I thought it would be nice to touch upon a few of my favourite posts from the last year. They aren’t necessarily the most ‘popular’ or the most commented upon, they’re just personal to me.
Dream Reader– I wrote a post for my dream reader. Does pretty much what it says on the tin.
Memoir Madness – Tattoos, tears and big fuck yous. I love this post and I love how it makes my blood boil, still.
Specs Appeal – Making a spectacle of myself as a glasses wearer.
But to the fun bit. Along with all you lovely readers; my Mum, who I know reads this blog and my friends out there in the real world, I’d like to take the opportunity to invite a couple of people I admire. I’ve carefully chosen these guests so I hope you’ll make them feel welcome and share your cake nicely (don’t worry, I don’t believe in sharing food either, I’ll just make sure there’s plenty for everybody).
Björk – She’d tell the greatest anecdotes and turn up in the best possible attire.
Lisbeth Salander – I know she’s a fictional character but this is my party and I’ll invite book characters if I want to. She’d hate my party and be aloof of course, but I fancy I would crack the surface just a bit before the night was out.
Idris Elba – He’s just so cool and beautiful. I think he’d be an immensely pleasurable guest to have around.
Of course, my guest of honour is a no brainer.
Tom Hanks and I would hit it off right away, because who wouldn’t? He’d be the nicest man I’ve ever met and smash every expectation I had right out of the ball park.
We already know from this recent video that Hanx likes a sing and dance so I’d expect him throwing shapes to Spice Up Your Life quite soon after he entered the party.
It would be a pretty radical party which is funny because I realise in all my 37 years on this earth, I’ve never thrown one.
I’m not what you’d call a natural party girl. I used to suffer panic attacks before every night out in London and given the choice as a teenager, would always have picked staying home. I didn’t but I would have had my friends let me.
I’m better now and I’ve even been known to have some very good times of my own volition. I like to dance like a loon and drink, very rarely, but when I do, I like to do it properly.
Anyway, happy birthday to you, A Voluptuous Mind. Happy birthday to me, A Voluptuous Girl. Here’s to many more happy years together.
But mainly, thanks to every single one of you, who take the time to read my words and thoughts, who comment and like; and to those of you who stop me in the supermarket, or in the street; who message me and say you enjoy my writing. I’m doing this because I love it, but you make it feel worthwhile.
A Voluptuous Mind 