70 Things About Me At 70

………celebrating my 70th Birthday

Today, 31 January is my 70th birthday. I’m very much in shock at how this milestone has crept up on me. I remember when my mother turned 70, and I really didn’t think she would live for much longer. She is still going strong at 89.

I’m not at all into parties or fuss for birthdays. When I turned 60, I took myself off to Spain and walked The Camino de Santiago from France to Santiago and then on to Finisterre, which was considered by explorers and pilgrims to be ‘the end of the world’

I’m not planning another Camino to celebrate turning 70, but instead, I thought I would share a few things about myself. This is my fourth post on Substack, and I have a few new followers here who know very little about me.

The following 70 things about me at age 70, are listed in no particular order, just as they come to mind.

70 Things

I have two sisters

My hometown is Shepparton, Victoria, Australia

I lived in my hometown until I was 52

I married at 19

I was married for 32 years, when I divorced

I started a new life in Bendigo after my divorce, where I knew nobody

I chose Bendigo because it has a great cycling culture

With my husband, I started a business when I was 22. We sold it after 30 years

My first child was born when I was 21

I have three children - two boys and 1 girl

My son died in a car accident in 1995, when he was 18

My daughter has taken herself away from the family so I haven’t seen her for many years

I have been with my partner for almost 12 years. He is wonderful and kind and makes me happy.

I love cycling, gym, walking and strength training

I have done 13 ten day bike rides in four states of Australia

I was an aerobics instructor, qualifying in the first intake of the new course

I also qualified as a personal trainer and managed a gym in my 40s

I love gardening

I have been to Canada four times. Once in each season

I have been on the Rocky Mountain Railroad three times

I have cycled around Wales with my daughter

I’m an introvert and am happy in my own company

I would much rather stay home than go out

I walked alone across Spain, on the Camino de Santiago

I walked 100k in 24 hours from Melbourne to Sorrento on a private, unorganised walk, just myself and my friend.

I first met my father’s family when I was 46.

I love blogging and have four blogs

I was a swimming teacher and water aerobics instructor

We lived completely off the grid for five years

I have many food dislikes

My son and grandchildren live at Sunshine Coast

I have very dodgy knees and will be having need a replacement soon

Since being an adult have moved house 15 times

I never enjoyed school, from primary school through to the end.

I love reading. My favourite genre is historical fiction

I’m not a confident person

I love poodles and have a toy poodle called Oscar

My Dad died when I was in Spain and my dog died when I was in USA

I retired a few months ago, when I was 69 and 10 months

I worked in admin before my marriage

I love chocolate

I used to be an avid quilter

I love the summer and hate the winter

My favourite food, other than chocolate is salmon

I was vegetarian since I was 30, but on doctors orders now have meat twice in a month

My ancestry is very British

I have done voluntary work transcribing prison records from the 18th century

I first began researching my family history when I was 35

I had three broken arms when I was in my 60s

I have osteoporosis which is managed with bi-annual injections

I broke my spine in 2009 when I was hit by a car while cycling

I love walking on the beach in winter

I have loved cycling since I was a child

I cannot say no to dessert or cake

I studied Japanese at TAFE for one year

I purchased a cafe when I had never worked in a cafe

I love coffee

I dislike having my photo taken

I am more than terrified of Dentists

My music tastes are very unsophisticated - 80s pub rock

I don’t drink alcohol

I don’t smoke

I am quite stubborn

I’m probably the only person around who detests pizza and lasagna

I am an introvert

I have a passion for genealogy/family history and have a blog where I share all things genealogy - Down Tracking Down The Family

I am doing a One Place Study of a town in Wales - Haverfordwest History

My book blog is where I share book reviews and other things bookish - Best BookishBlog

I was extremely shy as a child, and some adults thought I couldn’t speak

My AFL team is North Melbourne, the Kangaroos

This post is linked to the Wednesday Words & Whimsy linkup hosted by Min from Write of the Middle