At the start of August this year (2024) I turned 40 (shock, horror, where does the time go?). Having spent the last few years – especially since Covid – living almost a hermit existence, I decided that this was a good opportunity to do something more than the usual birthday meal to mark the anniversary. After a passing comment to my aunt when my cousin turned 50 and seemed to have numerous celebrations (and quite right, why not?), I decided to complete 40 ‘events’ to mark turning ’40. After all, 40 at 40 is easier than 50 at 50!
Whilst my brother is quite right that my 40th birthday actually marks the end of my 40th year, not the start, I am spreading out the 40 events across 2024 – 2025 (officially 1st Aug 24 – 31st July 2025) though as will be noted, there was a bit of blurring to the start of the schedule.
The ‘events’ that I am planning or considering (not everything is fixed and finalised at this point) range from the mundane to the spectacular. Some are charity fund raisers, some are exercise/ activities to get me moving, some are skills or crafts for me to try and learn, whilst others are new experiences or a step out of the ‘boring old me’ mould. Many are social, whilst others are private, and several are things I’ve been telling myself I should do for ages and still haven’t got round to doing.
I’m a person who love variety and trying new things – some more successfully than others – and this is a perfect opportunity to explore this to the full.
Sadly, as I am a year out of being fully employed, there are cost considerations which I need to take into account, which has impacted my intended list (which has grown to over 60 ideas). Whilst I am loving the self-employed/ free-lance relaxed lifestyle, the bank balance isn’t quite as stable as it ideally could be, and the confidence in forthcoming earnings even less so. This means that many of the bigger ideas (a weeks writing holiday in Andalucia; a holiday in Scotland enjoying the West Highland Railway; Shire Horse driving day at Wimpole Hall) have had to be shelved for future enjoyment.
To kick the ‘celebrations’ off with a bang, I decided to attend the Paris Olympics which happened to span the big day itself. So with my family, had my first overseas holiday in many years – which was long overdue and thoroughly enjoyed.
It is my intention that each of these events will have a blog post of their own – though some posts may be longer than others.
To achieve the 40 activities within the 12 months, I shall complete three every month, with four months completing one more. This should promise an interesting, challenging, and hopefully inspiring year which I can take forward into my next decade!
To date, my plans include:
- Family meal
- Paris Olympics
- Start a Common Place Book
- Walk the Wherryman’s Way – raising funds for the RSPCA as part of their Walk on the Wilde Side event, aiming to walk 60 miles this September. https://rspca.enthuse.com/pf/karen-morral
- Charity hair cut
- Charity long-distance walk (such as the Norfolk Pier to Pier Walk)
- Walk the Suffolk Coastal Path
- Personal Shopping Stylist session
- Get a tattoo??
- Spend the day drawing Beccles
- Get a Radio shout out
- Spa day
- Plant 40 trees
- Volunteer at a special event
- Attend a special/ focused exhibition
- Visit the Hogwarts Experience
- See a West End Show
- Visit Hampton Court Palace.
- Cycle the TransPennine Trail (attempted once before but disrupted by appalling weather!)
- Try Carriage driving
- Learn Spinning (wool)
- Join a gym
- More to be confirmed.