"Well I hadn't thought about it until you just asked me, everything was fine." Leigh pauses. Hang on, I'm turning 40. WHAT?!" He laughs and tells me it's parents that turn 40. "I'm still a kid." Leigh says he doesn't find the thought of turning 40 particularly daunting, but does think it's an interesting time. … Continue reading Leigh, Derby, UK
Author: Paps
Streams of consciousness
I feel a bit lost right now. It’s that time in between jobs where you’ve left one and not yet started the other - something I always try to do, as I find I need a decompress period, a time for mourning almost - and after weeks of to do lists, constant conversations, stress and … Continue reading Streams of consciousness
Kowhai, North Canterbury, NZ
"As 40 comes closer I think about it on a weekly basis; it definitely feels like quite an important milestone for me, a stake in the ground to which to compare the rest of my life against." Kowhai is looking forward to turning 40. She says: "I've come through a lot of things over the … Continue reading Kowhai, North Canterbury, NZ
Ben, Cheltenham, UK
"In all honesty, I'm absolutely fine about turning 40." Pause. "But..." I wait while Ben looks out the window. "Every now and then you get this thing where you think, OK, I"m nearly 40, which is basically nearly 50, that's nearly 60, 70..and you're dead." He laughs. "30 felt close to 20, 40 feels closer … Continue reading Ben, Cheltenham, UK
Kathy, Bristol, UK
"I'm OK about turning 40. I mean, there's certain things I want to tick off, but it's just a number, it's just another day." Kathy looks contemplative. "By 30, I wanted to be married, have a house, and have a kid - or at least one in the pipeline. I was pregnant on my 30th … Continue reading Kathy, Bristol, UK
Change is always unsettling
I'm dealing with a lot of stuff right now. I hadn't realised this though, until two different people pointed it out to me. I guess that's what happens sometimes, you just get so caught up in the middle of everything that you don't always realise what you're actually caught up with. You just battle through, … Continue reading Change is always unsettling
Mr Brightside
Most people have at least one song that means something, right? That on hearing will transport them back in time, to a moment in their memory that's so clear and sharp you may as well be back there for real. One of my such songs is Mr Brightside. A classic, iconic, feel good song. One … Continue reading Mr Brightside
A year in moments – the end
2020 has gone which also means my Year in moments project has come to an end. Safe to say this one wasn't as successful as Year in people, with only 23 posts published compared to the 99 I'd done in 2019. Why? Mainly, COVID. Doesn't really need much more explanation than that eh? Tales from … Continue reading A year in moments – the end
2020 roundup
New Years Eve, 2020. What a year aye? What can I say. I've sat here for a while, hands poised over the keyboard, but not much is coming out easily. I don't normally do end-of-year posts, and I'm not a resolution-maker, but it felt somehow fitting to write something this year. I'm keen to not … Continue reading 2020 roundup