40 for 40

This was harder than I anticipated

Photo by Sorina Bindea on Unsplash

I turn 40 next week.

Excuse me whilst I take a moment to allow that to digest.

Anyway, yes, bye bye, thirties. You were, on the whole, a good decade.

So, to celebrate entering my fifth decade (stop) I’m listing 40 things I love. I nabbed this idea from

Keris Fox

, who nabbed it from someone else, so maybe that means we’ve made a meme now?

Anyway, onwards:

1. Swimming in the Med. The sea in general, actually, though only in shallow water. Especially off the coast of…

2. …The South of France. If I could live anywhere, it’s the French riviera.

3. A cold glass of Picpoul de Pinet, or a cold glass of any Provence rosé.

4. The dinner party episodes of MAFS.

5. My lovely children…

6. … and the things they enjoy, like, watching my son act, and

7. Listening to my daughter play her piano.

8. Really beautiful basslines in songs

9. Cold pillows and sheets in summer

10. My electric blanket in winter

11. My new boobs. A new love, sure, but a fierce one. (also, still quite an ouchie one)

12. Watching live music.

13. Yorkshire puddings dipped in gravy

14. Hanging out with my husband. I whinge about him sometimes, but I do actually think he’s ace.

15. Money. There, I said it.

16. My beautiful tuxie cat. A symmetrical boy in his markings. A good boy even when he’s a very bad boy. A ‘scrunkley pet’ as my daughter says. We got him in lockdown because covid stressed me so much and I needed a cat in the house to calm down. Look at his handsome little face.

    

17. Listening to the rain from my bed, and further to that, a good thunderstorm at night. The louder and heavier the better.

18. EDM. Make me a playlist with some deadmau5, Odezsa, Tensnake, Royksopp, Calvin Harris, Alesso and Daft Punk and I will be a very happy bunny indeed.

19. Finding books that are just so me.

20. Seeing shooting stars and satellites and the ISS on really clear nights.

21. When my house is clean and tidy.

22. My hair after seeing my hairdresser.

23. Watching aeroplanes taking off and landing at the airport we live close to.

24. Coffee in bed in the morning.

25. Crockett’s Theme by Jan Hammer. Play it at my funeral, thanks. It has everything I love. Synths, flowing chords, a nice bassline, some electric guitar, a build up. My favourite ever piece of music.

26. Related: jazzy chords in music. Why use a triad when you can extend? Seventh chords rule! Also, the resolution of a sus4 chord to a major triad is sooo pretty!

27. Stretching out my limbs whilst swimming.

28. Catch up calls with friends

29. Croque Monsieurs. Cheese, good. Ham, good. Béchamel, gooood.

30. Bees buzzing through lavender. Or any flowers, really. But I really do like lavender.

31. The moments just as you fall asleep.

32. Icy cold Diet Coke with loads of ice and lemon.

33. Tiramisu. Homemade, but I also don’t sniff at shop bought.

34. Getting my tax return done months before the deadline. It’s a funny sort of love, that. I find it really satisfying, and a massive relief that I won’t have to think about it again.

35. When a plot line in a book I’m writing falls neatly into place. I get a nice little adrenaline buzz.

36. Dozing on a beach in the sun.

37. Similar to listening to weather at night time, there are some people who drive doughnuts around a car park close to my house, and there’s something really comforting about that, too.

38. Booking trips away. Doesn’t need to be anywhere exotic or even abroad, it’s more about having something to look forward to.

39. Reading a positive review of my books 😎 😍

40. Belly laughs that go on and on.