I'm 40 today (which I find surprising)! It's been quite a laugh at work as there is much teasing going on relating to my demi-octogenarian status, and if that wasn't enough to tease me about there is much mirth about my mugshot in the Oxford Mail plugging the LOVE LIFE LIVE LENT campaign. LOL. (Piccy shows off the grey hairs well eh?)
For the last couple of years I've done a '38' and '39' things about me list as a piece of self indulgent reflection. I've updated and increased it to '40!'
1. I was told by the teacher I didn't have 'a snowball's chance in hell' of passing my physics A-Level! (he was right)
2. I don't have a TV
3. I wanted to be a Pilot for most of my teenage years
4. My oldest boy has Cerebral Palsy and I consider him one of my heroes
5. I once crashed a car by skidding on gravel, Ironically I was listening to 'Going out in a Blaze of Glory' and crashed into the 'Caution loose surface' sign
6. I can ride a unicycle and juggle (not however at the same time)
7. I've been learning German from a book called 'German in Three Months' for the last 14 years
8. I played 'Bottom' in 'A Midsummer Nights Dream'
9. If there was a group of teenagers and a group of adults I'd most likely be talking to the teenagers
10. I have three Children
11. I laugh often and loudly
12. I have about 1000 books including a great CS Lewis and GK Chesterton Collection
13. I REALLY wanted a skateboard when I was a boy, I got my first one at 34
14. I can't read 'I'll love you forever' to my children because I end up crying
15. I like listening to Meatloaf LOUD
16. I was very immature as a teenager, a late developer
17. Joanna and I have been married for 16 years
18. I love long distance cycle challenges and have completed the 'Salisbury 100 (miles)' three times, always in less than eight hours (I did crack (and bail out) on a TOUGH 115 mile Cyclo sportif event in 2006)
19. I can't iron shirts (they end up with more creases in afterwards)
20. I love single malt whisky (and of those I love Talisker the most)
21. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the amount of pain in the world
22. Joanna and I went to a Bible School in Austria
23. I am a passionate skier and am going in 2007 for the first time in years, YAY
24. I broke my arm when I was six by jumping off the top of a climbing frame (but for some reason I told people I fell)
25. Christianity is my life and my hope, my struggle and my meaning
26. I have been knocked off my bike by cars 5 times, twice by hit and run drivers
27. I can't sing! (At least not without other people complaining)
28. Bruce Cockburn's lyrics and music have had a huge impact on me
29. I am an extrovert most of the time
30. My Spiritual journey has also involved un-learning a lot of what I was taught
31. I haven't really had a nickname. A teacher as school called me 'McDafty' which I hated, a bunch of teenagers on a camp once affectionately called me 'Preacherman' which I loved. I was also reminded by a dear friend that I was referred to as Dangermouse for a while!
32. My biggest regret is how poorly I lived out my faith during my teenage years
33. I feel closer to God in the mountains, for me that's a 'thin place'
34. I am still friends with my previous girlfriends (these pre-date my marriage!)
35. I don't like films with sad endings, I like films with a feel-good factor (eg Cool Runnings)
36. I get really wound up by able bodied people parking in 'disabled bays'
37. My favourite place in the world is Ramsau in Austria
38. Greenbelt Festival is one of the highlights of my year. The creativity, music, discussion and Christian community is for me a slice of heaven.
39. I'm a professionally qualified Youth Worker
40. I'm 40 years Old!
Marvellous! And many happy returns! Have a wonderful day!
Whoop, whoop!
Happy birthday. Hope you have a good one.
Phil
Nice one Ian - happy birthday.
Even with all that grey hair you don't look a day over 39 ;)
Ricky
belatedly on blog - happy birthday... Grey?? what grey? it's hidden beheind that GIANT PHONE!!
Ian, the grey is the least of your worries, your hands seem to have suddenly grown to freakishly large proportions when you hit forty? ;)
K
This is what we sing to people at Church when they have a birthday...get a sick bag before reading:
Happy Birthday to you, to Jesus be true, may he and guide and bless you, happy birthday to you!
class cheese, but I truly hope you had a fantastic birthday!
Catching up with blogs after a few days only kind of around, hope you had a really good day and I have to say on fact number 19, it is a known fact that all men iron more crease into shirts than out, it’s just one of those things we can’t do, if Gill ever need a good laugh she tries to talk me into doing the ironing!