It's strange being on the cusp of reaching 60...it seems that I am living the last year of my 50's in slow motion, or is it that I am now just trying to make every minute count?  Is this what happens when you realise that 70 is closer than 40? or memories of being 10 are now 50 years ago? The upside of this transition is that I am now valuing life far more than I ever did.  I am able to cherish friends more, my husband more, my life more.  I am able to look at my mistakes and say "thank God I made them, because I wouldn't be the person I am today without making them".  So, all in all, I reckon reaching 59 is not altogether a bad thing.  It's a triumph. It's when we can be grateful for all we have, for all that we have ever had and for what is to come.  

And hey, what about the music and fashion from those decades!  The rara skirt for instance...sadly I hadn't the figure to carry it off but luckily I had the innocence to wear one anyway. Platform shoes, flared trousers, puffed shoulders...Oh, how I could go on. In fact, I will....hair crimpers!!  I must have spent hours in front of the mirror only to create a hair style that resembled a nasty incident with a high voltage iron up my arse!  Oh yes, they were the days.

But the music lives on...and on...

I joined my girly friends the other night to see an ABBA tribute band.  What a night.  Everyone became united to the cause.  To enjoy every single minute.  Hands swaying, voices singing (some far better than others) and for most of the time we were standing and bopping on the spot to well known songs.  For a moment, all was good in the world.  And that my dear friends is the power of music.  Forget prozac, Find the best album you ever bought and play it loud., dance your heart out and sing freely.  I think music has such magical powers and it's always there when you need it.  

Of course, with the 50's comes along the menopause and I am finding that it brings along a whole load of strange behaviour.  For instance, my friend can no longer speak properly.  She is finding that words that have p's and b's in have sometimes become impossible to pronounce.  She ends up talking `alien talk', although had I consumed enough gin that night I'm confident I would have understood every work she said.  Another friend finds it hard to find the right word to describe something...and furthermore, when she has found a word, which she thinks is correct, is totally oblivious that it is the wrong one!  The conversation went like this..."I popped into church today, just to say a quick prayer" "Oh, I didn't know you were a fallopian?" she replied "I don't think you mean that" I said "Do you mean a theologian?"  She laughs and said "Oh yes"  "Well no, I'm not either of them" I replied.

But I did pop into the church...but that's for another blog

I've never blogged before, but there's a first for everything.  I've not even sent out #captivating #readallaboutit regular tweets that have been liked or shared by anyone, although I do regularly get contacted on Facebook by US surgeons asking me to be their friend as they love my profile. I reckon they must be brain surgeons thinking I have lost mine.  I don't even find it flattering, just irritating, but I find a quick delete and block does the job nicely.   What worries me is just how many vulnerable women have become a victim to such predatory behaviour.  How many naïve young girls have been encouraged to befriend such individuals leading to unpleasant consequences.

But, as I say, this is my first attempt at doing regular blogs and it's all down to the fact that I am beginning a new adventure with podcasts in my home studio.  Perhaps `home studio' sounds too posh, in reality it's two laptops, a mixer and a microphone into which I will talk away to myself and invite guests to join me.  One of the topics dear to my heart is women's health and wellbeing.  So, with this in mind, I will be talking to inspirational women who have overcome challenges in their lives; women who have found a coping strategy to deal with difficult situations; women who are navigating the menopause with an unreliable compass but are somehow finding their way...in fact, I'll be talking to women just like you and me.  Talking, inspiring and giving support.

Another topic I will attempt to trial out is my ability as a comedy writer to entertain and amuse.  God knows how successful this will be, but hey I have such a warped mind that it will be good therapy for me anyway!  

The title of this blog is 59 is a funny age...and it sure is!!  And my blogs will be a light-hearted review of my journey, trials and tribulations of aging gracefully (or not) until my big 60 in November arrives.  Take hairspray for instance...or the application of it.  Lesson one as a 59 year old, `strong hold' should only be used on very limited occasions and sparingly.  Lesson two, never bother to put above mentioned product on hair when walking outside on a windy day...not unless you want to walk down the street with a piece of your hair flapping up and down waving at everyone resembling what I can only describe as the top of a flip top waste bin frantically opening and closing.  A got sympathetic looks from people who thought I was wearing a toupee. Lesson three, the can said `brushes out easily'... 

So, what I have learned during my 59 years of being part of planet earth.  Well, I've come to realise that my mind often resembles a cage of bingo balls.  The caller ie me will occasionally pick up a ball and call out the number and see if it's on my card to make a full house....now, bear with me here.  What I mean is I sometimes have the most crazy ideas and plans and by luck some of them actually produce a winner.  I actually achieve things I'm proud of.  Take for instance writing songs and recording two cds with my band and raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support; taking the students at Catmose College to Curve Theatre to perform my musical; writing and having my plays performed and more recently writing and publishing my first book.  So, what about you?  Perhaps time to load some bingo balls into that head of yours and "eyes down look in, your first number is"...

I'm on the starting block for some new exciting projects.  So, as they say....watch this space!