Christmas is just round the corner. 2016 is spluttering to an end. And it's time for me to wave a final fond farewell to my sixtyat60 challenge. But as I do this, I'm beyond happy to say that the sixtyat60 baton has been passed onto a new holder. This trusty volunteer is a friend of mine called Caroline Britton, who celebrated her 60th birthday last Saturday, and is already getting stuck into her list of 60 tasks. She's fund-raising for Beating Bowel Cancer and Arthritis Research UK, and will be writing a blog after each task just as I did.
If you'd be interested in reading about Caroline's sixtyat60 challenge, do please visit her blog, where she'll be regaling readers over the next year with stories of travel, games & magic (can't wait to see her video clip of performing a trick.....), getting on with IT, culture, helping hand, creative crafts, food & drink, nature and mind & body - not to mention that scariest of sections, facing fears (she's certainly chosen to confront a few of those, brave girl).
http://60at60challenges.blogspot.co.uk/
Now before I sign off for good, I must just give you one important update arising from my own challenge. Cast your mind back 12 months, when my oldest friends Louise and Annabel accompanied me to Somerset House for a session of ice-skating (Task 6).
You may perhaps remember that events took an unexpected turn that afternoon and poor Annabel landed up in St Thomas's A&E Department with a Colles fracture? After skilled surgical intervention, lots of physio and epic determination on Annabel's part, her wrist is almost back to full strength and dexterity (albeit with metal plates in place). So to acknowledge and celebrate the progress that she's made, the three of us returned to Somerset House last week, along with Amelia (another friend from those halcyon days of our youth), who joined forces with us in A&E a year ago to support Annie in her hour of need.
Somerset House looked as fetching and festive as we remembered it from our previous visit. I don't suppose you'll be surprised to hear that we decided to give the ice-rink a miss this time. But Annabel treated us to the round of hot chocolate that we were unable to stay for last year. And thus the Task 6 circle was finally completed, which we all agreed was a very nice feeling indeed.
There's just one last piece of unfinished business. 'What about the book Vivien?' I hear a few of you murmur. Well, I'll be straight with you, I think that's going to be a tougher than tough nut to crack. A couple of weeks ago I completed a draft proposal with a view to submitting it to a literary agent. I ran it past two, ahem, blood relations of mine. Their feedback gave me no cause for optimism. But as Andrew says, I must see it through. So an amended document will duly be submitted to Watson Little, Literary Agents extraordinaire, by Christmas Eve. And then my job will be done, whatever the outcome (and I'm not holding my breath!)
My sincere thanks again for being a very special group of readers. In addition to your hugely generous donations to my two charities, you've supported me in countless different ways throughout the sixtyat60 challenge, and have helped me to prove to myself that retirement is both fun and fulfilling. And who knows, I may just start another blog to keep myself out of mischief - watch this space.
If you'd be interested in reading about Caroline's sixtyat60 challenge, do please visit her blog, where she'll be regaling readers over the next year with stories of travel, games & magic (can't wait to see her video clip of performing a trick.....), getting on with IT, culture, helping hand, creative crafts, food & drink, nature and mind & body - not to mention that scariest of sections, facing fears (she's certainly chosen to confront a few of those, brave girl).
http://60at60challenges.blogspot.co.uk/
Now before I sign off for good, I must just give you one important update arising from my own challenge. Cast your mind back 12 months, when my oldest friends Louise and Annabel accompanied me to Somerset House for a session of ice-skating (Task 6).
You may perhaps remember that events took an unexpected turn that afternoon and poor Annabel landed up in St Thomas's A&E Department with a Colles fracture? After skilled surgical intervention, lots of physio and epic determination on Annabel's part, her wrist is almost back to full strength and dexterity (albeit with metal plates in place). So to acknowledge and celebrate the progress that she's made, the three of us returned to Somerset House last week, along with Amelia (another friend from those halcyon days of our youth), who joined forces with us in A&E a year ago to support Annie in her hour of need.
Somerset House looked as fetching and festive as we remembered it from our previous visit. I don't suppose you'll be surprised to hear that we decided to give the ice-rink a miss this time. But Annabel treated us to the round of hot chocolate that we were unable to stay for last year. And thus the Task 6 circle was finally completed, which we all agreed was a very nice feeling indeed.
There's just one last piece of unfinished business. 'What about the book Vivien?' I hear a few of you murmur. Well, I'll be straight with you, I think that's going to be a tougher than tough nut to crack. A couple of weeks ago I completed a draft proposal with a view to submitting it to a literary agent. I ran it past two, ahem, blood relations of mine. Their feedback gave me no cause for optimism. But as Andrew says, I must see it through. So an amended document will duly be submitted to Watson Little, Literary Agents extraordinaire, by Christmas Eve. And then my job will be done, whatever the outcome (and I'm not holding my breath!)
My sincere thanks again for being a very special group of readers. In addition to your hugely generous donations to my two charities, you've supported me in countless different ways throughout the sixtyat60 challenge, and have helped me to prove to myself that retirement is both fun and fulfilling. And who knows, I may just start another blog to keep myself out of mischief - watch this space.
