What men were wearing 40 years ago...

Click here to check out the fashions :)

The Julie Project

The Julie Project is a photo essay of Julie over 18 years. Julie is a mother, homeless, drug addict and AIDS sufferer. Someone posted a link to this project on twitter. I read it and cried. Julie is only 2 years younger than me, she’s 38 im about to be 40. I cant believe how different our lives are not only now as adults but as children. I suspect though that Julie didn’t have the opportunity to be a child.  When you have five minutes take the time to read and view the photos. Also take the time to reflect.

The Julie Project

Time to get this party started....

OK. So I have four sleeps until I officially turn 40.  A few months back a friend asked what I wanted to do for my 40th. I honestly didn't know. Do I have a big bash? Do I have a small bash? Do I sit in my bedroom all alone shaking and crying "age is only a number...age is only a number"? I decided to go with a small bash figuring that I'll leave the big bash for my 50th. Now some may see that as denial for not wanting the big bash but I see it as me taking time out to catch up with a couple of friends, have a laugh and a few cocktails. Now I don't know what is happening on the night as I haven't been involved in the arrangements - a few friends have done the organising - I just turn up. Its kind of like the surprise party you have when your not surprised its on. Get my drift?

So what will happen in four sleeps time?
Will I feel a jolt as my life suddenly begins at 40 and does that mean Ive been dead for 39??
More importantly, will I have a headache on sunday morning???

Love Thy Neighbour?

So. My second blog post ever. It’s the last day of January 2011 and only 12 sleeps until I turn 40 – so how is life shaping up? Its a Monday night and Im watching Home and Away as I type and wondering ‘did Alf do it?’ Riveting stuff hey.  Oh oh and not to forget that Brothers and Sisters season starts tonight so I have just set Tivo up with a season pass. All very mundane things. Yet there are a lot of people who are probably craving for the mundane things of life given what they have recently been through. In the wake of the recent floods in Queensland I had the experience to work with volunteers who came to my city to help people in the days following the flood peak.  The old and the young, the able and not so able – everyone wanted to help out in some small or big way. People wanted to clean up, wash up, and cook up (i swear i have never seen so many baked goods!). There has been a lot of sadness and tears thinking about people I know personally and others that I have come to know through the media who have lost everything including loved ones.  For us that didn’t lose everything life has gone on. For others an exhausting task of rebuilding their life has begun. The community spirit has been bubbling away since the floods and I really hope we can harness that and keep it going for as long as possible. Ive heard people say they never knew their neighbours before the floods – now they know them so well and will probably be lifelong friends having shared this almighty experience. So heres to you Mr, Mrs, Ms Neighbour all over the city....here’s to a lot of cracking good street parties happening this year that go on to be a yearly tradition!! Speaking of parties..... I'll be back soon to talk about a certain 40th celebration coming up.

Does life really begin at 40?

So its 2011 and this year I turn 40. Is age just as they say - a number? Is it a state of mind? Do our frames of reference, assumptions, desires and morals change simply because we turn 40??? According to a recent article being 40 can be downright dangerous and life threatening. EEK! Theres quite a few websites dedicated to turning and being 40 - who knew that???!!!

So who else is turning 40 with me this year? Heres a few....

• Winona Ryder - “I’m at that age I’ve been warned my whole life about,” says Ryder. So no one warned you about shoplifting then?
• Mark "Marky Mark" Wahlberg - would still like to see him in some Calvin Kleins
• Mariah Carey - perhaps her breasts are only turning 18 though?
• Snoop Dog - who DOESN'T love the snoop?
• Ricky Martin - livin' la vida loca. loca. loca. loca.

Here is how this little project will work. I'll be updating my blog as 2011 rolls on by. What changes will I experience, if any, because Im 40? Will my life suddenly go into superdrive or will it be status quo? Lets wait and see and in the meantime you can check out these great "40th birthday" quotes...

See you soon :) 

B