70 Years Old…
2025 was a milestone year for me as I turned 70. One minute I was 15 and couldn’t even imagine being 21, and now here I am. Happy to be here and considering myself lucky considering some of the tricks I used to get up to. I’m still mostly in tact. Still riding my bike, and playing my guitar and enjoying life. What more could I ask?

10,000 kms ridden…
I had set myself the goal of cycling 10k kilometers this year, and I did it with three weeks to spare. I have to say that I enjoyed every pedal turn. Spring and autumn were best. The Haute Vienne is so beautiful then. I go out on my bike and the fairies put me under a blissful spell which is only broken by the realization that I am under a spell.

Full Back Tattoo…
I finally got that full back tattoo I’ve always wanted. I used to go to the swimming baths in Brierley Hill in my young teens. There were some young men there who could do amazing dives from the top diving board. They could swim fast. Some of them had tattoos. I was in awe of them. I wanted to be one of them. One in particular had a full back tattoo. I decided that one day I would have one too.
I thought about it in my early 20s, but never got round to it. Again as my 40th approached I thought of it. Even asked an artist I knew if they would create a design for me. They didn’t!
Same again when I was 60. And now, for my 70th I finally got it done. Thanks Grok! 🙂

Happy New Year everyone! May 2026 be your best year ever.