At my age, I’ve had all the adventures I need.

I’ve been across the US on the Super Chief train (in 1956); I’ve been across the Atlantic Ocean in a plane propelled by propellers; I’ve been across the English Channel on a ferry, on a jetfoil, on a hovercraft and under the English Channel in a train that carries us with our car and, too, a train that carries us without our car.

I’ve gone from Calais or Dover, by car to Le Touquet, to Amiens, to Paris, to Alsace, to Switzerland, to the Dordogne, to St Tropez. By train I’ve gone from Calais (or Dover) to Paris, to Amsterdam, to Avignon, and to Nice (in 1959.)

And, long ago, I flew on a plane from California to Reno, Nevada and, not nearly so long ago, I flew on a plane from Stansted to Pisa then was driven on a bus to Florence. After that flight, which was perfectly unadventurous, I still would have taken a train back towards England if they hadn’t been on strike! (Flying is just too adventurous for me. Just ask Julian if you don’t believe me!)

In my living room I’ve been all over the world via books, photographs, film and tv. On those journeys I’ve seen the pyramids with John Romer: Rome and Naples, Sicily and Sardinia, Mexico, Peru, Argentina and many, many more places, too. (Thanks to my sister-in-law, Julie, for her lovely photographic journeys where I’ve seen lots of places, also gorgeous animals)!

Personally, my goal is to live at least as long as my mother, (nearly 91) or my great grandmother (93, I think) or even to 100(!), but if the “G.R.” should decide it’s time for me to go, it won’t be a tragedy.

I have had an interesting and fun life, where I have met so many annoying (at times) children who have grown into friends, and have met so many interesting and sometimes unusual people as well as having the greatest daughter and grand daughter any one would wish for and also acquiring my extended family and all my in-laws and their families and of course, Julian and a wide circle of friends who have come, departed and returned over the years – those have been, in their own quiet way, the best adventures I could ever wish for. (That last paragraph was difficult to write and make sense and if it doesn’t make sense, please read it again!)😄

(PS I feel I should mention the pets and other animals I have known, especially the one who is sitting next to me trying to remind me it’s time for a bite of supper, but that list is so long that I’d be sitting here typing for another hour or so.)