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What’s next? It’s a question that I ask myself continuously throughout life, especially over the past five years or so. You’d think that by the fabulous age of forty, I’d have life figured out. Sadly, this isn’t so and despite having a wonderful husband and two amazing children, I still find myself wondering what exactly my purpose on this planet may be.
At present life is a bit like a rather large jigsaw purchased from the local charity shop with an unusual amount of pieces missing from the box. I haven’t got a clue what I want to do when I’m older, but I am older… and there lies the issue.
I spent three years of life as a struggling student in Sheffield to then collect a certificate in something I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to do. I then ping-ponged from job to job in the hope that I’d find somewhere that I felt comfortable enough to be myself whilst earning enough money to get by. I’ve never really been the career-focused type – I guess I’ve been too busy juggling the many plates required to keep the kids organised, clothed, fed, educated, entertained, healthy, and happy. If there’s one thing that I wanted to get right in life, it was to give my children the childhood that they deserved. The kids and Paul are my World – family and love is all that matters at the end of the day.
I’m still not sure what it is that I want to do. I only hope that at forty there are still options available to explore as, other than being a wife and a Mum, it’s not until this point in my life that I’ve really, truly considered what it is that I want to be or want to do…
None of us ever really know what tomorrow brings, that is unless we plan specifically for given events. Even then, plans can change and whilst you may well have booked and packed for the holiday of a lifetime the plane may be delayed, the hotel suite may be canceled, the booking may change entirely and we’ve got to be flexible, right? Still, it’s great to plan ahead where you can – It keeps us focused, and organised, and gives us something in the future to look forward to.
One of the life lessons that I’ve learned throughout my forty-odd years on this planet is that whilst material goods are useful, memories are so much more precious. It’s for that reason that I try to plan ahead and make bookings for the future so that we, as a couple and as a family, have a range of events to look forward to, to get excited about, and to make fabulous memories together.
Having just and so returned from what was the holiday of a lifetime (our two-week trip to Florida) we’ve been somewhat reluctant to go splashing the cash, certainly until we’ve finished paying off our ‘Disney debts’! Other than the annual local events such as firework displays, the Dickensian Festival, and various Christmas parties, we only have one event (an evening with comedian Scott Bennett) penciled in the diary for 2024 thus far but I’m sure that’ll change in time.
Whilst I’m no longer in my festival-going-hippy-hay-day-twenties, I’ve still got Glastonbury Festival firmly placed on my bucket list for some point in the future. Though I’m no fan of camping, I’ll happily pitch a tent to join in with what is one of the World’s most famed festivals, especially if the line-up happens to include a few of my favorites.
Other than Ozzfest and Download, I’ve never really explored the UK’s festivals, and though I may be an aging married Mother, I’m by no way dead and buried yet sorry for the disappointment.
My children are now of an age where I’d feel happy (ish) taking them to tag along with us to experience a festival. Where? When? and How? are the questions however as most festivals seem to start mid-week during the summer school term which makes things a little awkward unless we were to stick to a single-day ticket.
Shall it be Kendal Calling? Leeds? or Reading perhaps? There are so many options to choose from these days as the UK seems to be inundated with festivals throughout the summer months including The Isle of White Festival, Download Festival, Leeds Festival, Reading Festival, Radio One’s Big Weekend Festival, Camp Bestival, Latitude Festival, and of course Glastonbury … which ONE DAY I’ll be certain to attend somehow or other.
No doubt, we will end up keeping clean, warm, and dry whilst watching said festival from the comfort of our couch but still, it’s nice to dream, and as A. P. J. Abdul Kalam once said “You have to dream before your dreams can come true.”
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