As I entered the 12 month period leading-up to my 80th birthday, which happens in October this year, inspired by Cathy’s idea of having twelve mini-celebrations during her 50th year on this planet, I decided to emulate her approach.
Turning 80: How Did That Happen?
I need to emphasise here that I find it difficult to believe that I have reached this stage in my life. In my mind, I’m possibly somewhere between 60 and 70. I see old people when I’m out in public; and, occasionally, I’m quite surprised when I catch a glimpse of myself in a glass shopfront. Could that possibly be me?
Now, four months in, I’m reflecting on the celebrations so far—small and big moments that have made this milestone feel extra special. Here’s what I’ve been up to!
November’s 80th Birthday Mini-Celebration: Melbourne Cup
I began my celebrations in November 2024 when I Cathy and I attended a Melbourne Cup Lunch. Despite having seen TV images of the event over the years, Cathy had never been to a function. On the day, we dressed in our best and, bedecked with borrowed fascinators, we shared this uniquely Australian event together.
December: A Big Day Out on the Sunshine Coast
On December 4th, whilst visiting Robyn, one of my oldest friends, who lives on the Sunshine Coast, we had a Big Day Out together. It began with a trip to the movies to see the just-released Wicked. Afterwards, we paused long enough for a canal-side lunch and then we pursued hours of Christmas shopping until, exhausted, we headed home for dinner and an early night!
Friends, Food, and Champagne: January’s 80th Birthday Lunch
One of the benefits of knowing people of the same age is that you get to attend lots of other people’s special birthday parties in that year, as well as your own celebrations. When another friend chose 4th January for his birthday lunch, not only was it a day of beautiful food and cake and champagne as we celebrated the birthday boy, it was also an opportunity to catch up with mutual friends of many, many years.
February: An Unforgettable Cruise to New Zealand
And then – along came February! Perhaps make yourself a cuppa, because this is quite an extended anecdote:
Back early in 2024, three of my closest friends and I decided to take a cruise to New Zealand to celebrate our 80th birthdays. We booked for the end of January, made lots of plans and chose excursions and restaurants in advance; I even had special black T-shirts screen-printed with “320 GOOD REASONS” in a very pretty, deep pink font. Just to explain: there were four of us, we were all due to turn 80 in the next year or so — and “4 X 80 = 320”!
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Excursion to Lord of the Rings Landscapes
When I saw the list of possible excursions, prior to the cruise, one stood out for me—and it happened to be scheduled for my “4th February” celebration day! It involved a round trip of some eight hours into the centre of New Zealand. I had seen a TV documentary some time back of a similar part of NZ and, when the chance came to experience that same landscape, it just resonated with me. Although my friends declined to join me and, expensive as it was, I booked, quite content to share a mini-bus with seven other strangers from the ship.
As we travelled deeper into the middle of the South Island, we moved through territory used as locations during the filming of “Lord of the Rings”‑ soul-satisfying landscapes of sheer beauty. At our destination, Erewhon Station, our group transferred to a covered wagon, powered by a team of draught horses, and we zigzagged our way up the surrounding hills until we came to the most breathtaking view: below us, a thin river of silver wound its way through a vast riverbed, all of this backdropped by mountains sporting vestiges of last year’s snow. It was a memory “to store up against the winter”.
We were the last bus to arrive back at the port and there were passengers at the ship’s rails who clapped us back onboard. It was such a perfect day… so why have I had moments where I have queried the wisdom of choosing that particular excursion? Well… two mornings later when I woke with a sore throat, I remembered the woman who had sat across the aisle from me on the bus and coughed and coughed all day of my special excursion. A week later, back on dry land and still not feeling wonderful, I was admitted to hospital with Influenza A and Bronchitis!
Would I do it again if I knew what the possible consequences would be? Although my response is not a resounding “yes”, I think just maybe I might.
As I look back on these first four months of my 80th birthday year, I’m so glad I decided to embrace the idea of mini-celebrations. Each experience—whether a glamorous Melbourne Cup lunch, a day of shopping with an old friend, or an unforgettable adventure in New Zealand—has added something special to this milestone year.
And the best part? There are still eight more celebrations to come! I can’t wait to share what’s next, so stay tuned for more stories as my 80th birthday journey continues.
