Turning 50

I can’t believe I’m 50. When I was young 50 seemed such a great age. Honestly 50 seemed old! Yet now I’m 50 – and I don’t feel old.

If “Life Begins at 40” then I’m already 10. I think in this modern era 50 is probably the new 40. In lots of ways I feel no different to how I was in my 20s. Yet I find myself entering  a decade which ends at 59.

My birthday celebrations begun before Christmas, with the arrival of Mum and Mum-in-Law in Tanzania.
 We had a great time in Moshi, before heading into the Serengeti. A fabulous Safari centered around an amazing balloon trip.
  
  
    
    
   
My birthday fortunately coincides with a Public Holiday – Zanzibar Day, which guarantees a day off every year 😉 However, this week’s celebrations began on  Monday evening, with a meal out with work colleagues at a local restaurant, “Charcoal Ribs”. A colleague celebrated his 40th on the same day as mine, so we held a joint 90th birthday meal.  

    
 After the meal a group us headed into town – I never thought I’d start my 50th in a night club but the first hour of Tuesday was spent at a local African club called Kiss Club. The mix of African rhythms was infectious and although our stay was short it was great fun!

Tuesday was the big day and it started with breakfast with my son at Tunza Lodge by the Lake. Thankfully after three days of rain the morning was bright and sunny. Sadly Public Holiday or not my wife was in work and my daughter on a school trip.  

    
 A short walk around the corner took us to Malaika Beach where we splashed out on pool passes until mid-afternoon. 

    
 Arriving home to find out garden transformed into a party venue. Friends from all over Mwanza gathered for a Joint 90th party. Live music a barbecue took us into the evening a great end to a fabulous day. 

    
    
   

My 40’s brought me promotion, my first visit to Africa (The Gambia), travel to Vietnam and Cambodia and a move abroad to settle in Tanzania. 

I wonder what my 50’s will bring –  it’s certainly been a great start.

Birthday Brace

Today is the second of the two birthdays for the Tanzalongs. The turn of Anita. Unfortunately this was juxtaposed with a Sixth Form parents evening. Luckily they don’t last that long here so we were all able to gather at our local bar The Joint for a drink and a meal by 6pm (there are only 25 in the whole of the the two years).

A number of colleagues from the compound and the flats were able to join us so it was a great evening of fun.

It’s gonna be a bit strange tomorrow with no birthday to celebrate but it’s been a great few days.

Birthdays! Birthdays!

This time of year seems to be a popular month for birthdays among the expat community here at Isamilo. This being the case there have been a number of social events recently. Having hosted a birthday celebration for one of the other children last week and visited Tunza Lodge for another celebration at the weekend, this week it is our time with a brace of birthdays coming up in the week ahead. There are further birthdays to come in the weeks ahead for others at Isamilo.

Today it was the turn of my daughter. We had a number of colleagues and staff over after school for a cake cutting a present giving followed by a dinner for the family at Hotel Tilapia. This is one of the best places to eat in town and although it is a little more expensive than some places it was a great place to celebrate my daughter’s 14th. Whilst there we got some night shots including a great one of an oncoming storm.

Birthday Cake

 

 

Family Send Off – Part 2

T Minus 5

Today we were going to Bicester to visit Anita’s cousin (Owen) to celebrate his birthday; except we weren’t!

Nineteen

1. T minus 87

Today is our 19th Wedding Anniversary and a time to reflect on the past as well as look to the future – I share here  wedding pictures from that day almost two decades ago. These come from Anita’s Creative Memories scrapbooking album.