“It’s My Birthday, It’s My Birthday, I’m-ma Spend My Money”

Published by Rick on Tagged Uncategorized

In my haste to avoid thinking of The Beatles’ songs either about birthdays or the number 64, I settled on this goofy Will.i.am song from a few months ago, and it got so stuck in my head for the ensuing hour that I started thinking of the Beatles, but even doing that, the only other song that got stuck in my head was “Donna The Prima Donna” by Dion, from 1963. No idea!! Hopefully that’s the worst that will happen in the remaining 7 hours that are my birthday.

Actually, my birthday was a bit of a godsend after a lot happened to make it a bit of a shit week. On Monday, I felt useless at a meeting of our co-op management committee, of which I’m a member, but my role is still yet to be fully defined. I did get encouragement later from the committee chair, so I won’t give up on it yet. On Tuesday, my quiz was hindered by a soccer (nyah, nyah, so sue me) match between the local N. London team Arsenal playing some (I think) German team only a few blocks away in one of, oh, maybe 50 tournaments that abound on top of the regular season, so it can last from September to June. We managed to have four quiz teams while management would like to see at least double that.

But at least we HAD a quiz on Tuesday! On Wednesday, we had to contend with the annual fete called Bonfire Night, the beginning of weeks of celebration and fireworks to commemorate the thwarting over 400 years ago of a plot by one Guido “Guy” Fawkes’ to blow up Parliament. As I said on stage last week, “You guys celebrate, for almost half of November, something that DIDN’T HAPPEN!” Needless to say, nobody was out on the streets that night, so we had to cancel the quiz as only one team of six showed up. It’s kind of hard to build from that when both pubs are newly-open and still finding their feet.

Thursday, there were problems at the hospice, which I can’t publicly discuss at this time, but my position there could be in jeopardy, which would be a major disappointment if I lost it. December will mark a year there, and I’ve screwed up a couple times, but I would terribly miss it if I were forced to give it up. Needless to say, my birthday, and the fact that the number of actual cards and e-mails I’ve received far exceeds what I usually get, couldn’t have come at a better time.

Tonight, I’m hanging with my flat mates and a dear friend at a nearby restaurant and pub, and it should be pleasant. I think back to where I spent my 50th birthday 14 years ago. It was in Cork, Ireland, with my experience in this part of the world having been a total of one week. It was one of my most wonderful birthdays, not knowing that today I’d be celebrating living here just over 11 years. And later this month will be my 10th wedding anniversary! Next blog? Good thing I’m friends with my ex.

Thanks to everyone who has sent birthday wishes. You’re all stars!

November 9th, 2014



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