When I was 50...

Around my birthday every year I take a look back at what I've done for the first time EVER, just to check that I'm not actually dead of old age yet.

This year, sadly, has been very quiet on the travel front. Basically we have a frail and elderly dog so we haven't been able to go on holiday since last January. Maybe next year...

"No - I will live forever! Give me snacks!"

Anyway, when I was 50:

For the Very First Time:

I rode on a banana-boat
I had three publishing houses fold on me in one year - goddamnit! THREE!!! I did my very first self-publishing, as a consequence - with more to follow
I finished a novel trilogy: both In Bonds of the Earth and The Prison of the Angels were published this yearI hosted a Facebook Promo Party - in fact I've done two now, if you count Blissemas on TuesdayI discovered that neat alcoholic spirits give me terrible indigestion. BOOO! I am getting old!I had a dishwasher installed. Don't tell Mr Ashbless, but I love it!I used a Rug Doctor and was impressedI used a juicer ... yeah, okay, someone shoot me now...I watched a branding (at Eroticon 2017) I went to the Leeds Festival (despite friends insisting it was VERY DANGEROUS)I saw ELO, Muse and Kasabian play liveI sold all my vinyl records I had to handle serious fly-tipping in my woodI successfully escaped an escape room (we've beaten three out of four so far, in fact)I used a robo-loo! 
I attended a sibling's wedding (my sister's ... I missed my brother's a few years back because I was on holiday)I visited the James Herriot Museum AT LAST (it's up the road ... have I been there at any point in the last 27 years? Have I heck.) Thank you Jo