When I was 40 I seemed to hit a wall of mid life crisis. I did not want to celebrate being 40 at all. I sat and and sulked! Mainly I was thinking "is this it?, is this all I have achieved in 40 years?" very depressing time for all around me too I am sure.

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Well that was then, and I feel rather foolish about those thoughts. Today I'm 50 and I don't feel like that at all. I am happy with my life.  I have a beautiful wife who I am still in love with (and who loves me .... I think) and two great daughters who have grown in fine young women. I am living somewhere were I feel comfortable, I enjoy my job and I have a new lease of ambition. I love the house and the things we can do throughout all the seasons, and what's more I have the time to do them! Something that always seemed in short supply in the UK. Perhaps I make more of an effort to find time than I did before, who knows.

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I received some nice gifts for reaching half a century, shirts, pyjamas (well I have reached that age I suppose), DVD, new CD of Blues music (something I have discovered while in Canada), and some smellies to help me smell nice. Julie also popped in a bottle of 10 year malt whisky, 'Macallan Fine Oak', which is smooth as silk.  I know because I had some with my boiled egg at breakfast. Perhaps that could be a new marketing idea "Macallan's Fine Oak Breakfast Whisky".

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The temperature today is -4c we still have a ton of snow and the sun is shining and we have a beautiful blue sky. After lunch we are taking a walk around O'dell park.

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I have taken some more video around the outside of the house to record this day for posterity. I may post them tonight.

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PS thanks to everyone for the Birthday wishes! I am always amazed at how people connect over the internet and seem to becomelike old friends without even meeting each other. 

I look forward to meeting the Beasties and Sinurt and her family when they land in Fredericton this year!