Turning 50

[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

Thanks all for your replies. I never gave age much thought when I turned 40 but for some odd reason I have been mulling over turning 50, silly when you think of it. A common theme I have noted in this thread is that one has to keep on top of ones health. Interesting point jjjnettie raised...travel. I have never travelled outside Australia..maybe this is something I should give more thought to.

1 hr 14 minutes to go.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

There's that Total Solar Eclipse in 2017 in the US that has a contingent of IISers attending.
Or you could attend Spacefest in 2016, held in Tucson.
Honestly, Spacefest is the most amazing event I've ever attended. The heads of the largest space missions attend to give the latest updates, and you get to hang out with the loveliest guys to have ever left the planet, Apollo Astronauts. Again, there is a small contingent of Aussies who attend, some of the from IIS too. So it's not as if you'd be turning up on your own.
The US has such an array of landscapes, National parks full of incredible natural beauty. Most of my life I'd vowed never to go there, but I've been converted, I love the USA.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by CJ

Years ago, the Irish comedian Dave Allen said "I don't mind getting old. Not when you consider the alternative "

I think Dave Allen was the funniest man I ever heard.

I have never understood why people get a little depressed when reaching certain milestones. I never have, as I celebrate my birthday, not for the day I was born, but rather for having made it through another year. So many times I nearly didn't make it, too many actually, which I guess provided me with a different perspective. Every day I wake up still sucking air, is a great day indeed!

So, yeah, Dave Allen was right! The alternative would really suck!


Cheers Peter

[uwahl (Ulrich)]

I spent the first decade after leaving school working as a metallurgist for BHP then went back to Uni and spent the next 32 years in public health. I turned 66 today, have been retired for 11 months and am learning about polar alignment, quantum efficiency, Fourier transforms, darks, flats etc in between travelling the country in a 4x4 and caravan. I'm having a ball!!

[Neil]

I turned 60 a few weeks ago, I also need to lose about 10 Kilo, so I'm going for a walk to the shops, about 1K return, up hill, see ya, clear skies.

[OzStarGazer]

Don't worry. What you see through your scope is much older and still very attractive.

[Dealy (Kev)]

Congrats on your birthday Hans.

I turned 50 this year also, and it sure does make you wonder where the years went. In my mind I still feel 25 but when I look in the mirror ... holy dooley what happened there!!

I also received the gift in the mail but haven't done it yet. You've all talked me into it.

I'm building an observatory for my present to myself. Hopefully I'll get to use for a long time.

Kev

[el_draco (Rom)]

Originally Posted by Stardrifter_WA

I think Dave Allen was the funniest man I ever heard.

Cheers Peter

Gawd yes... Remember the graveyard joke, stormy night, drunk falling into the gave.... Haven't heard it by Dave for decades but giggle just thinking about it. Pure Genius

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by el_draco

Gawd yes... Remember the graveyard joke, stormy night, drunk falling into the gave.... Haven't heard it by Dave for decades but giggle just thinking about it. Pure Genius

Yes, I remember that too. I always loved his stories about how he lost his finger. I agree, that man was pure genius when it came to comedy.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

When I turned 50 , I just told everybody it's taken me fifty years to look this ' good '

Flash....

[rrussell1962]

I had a week or so of..."How did that happen?" then, well, nothing changed really. I still haven't used my birthday present from the Government. Does it have a use by date?

[xelasnave]

The doc gave me a referral for a colonoscopy before my legs gave out which tied me up for a while.
I range today to get an appointment and was told mid May...
That's seems strange for such a long wait..I could be dead by then.
Not very encouraging and let's the test program down.
I might see the GP and see if he can send me elsewhere.

[xelasnave]

Well here is a cheer up for you fellas worrying about getting old.
I arrived home today to find two female visitors staying in a caravan up the top.
Invited me in we played music all afternoon and same tomorrow.
Both under 30 my 65 yr old mate who also lives on this property invited them for a holiday.
That never happened when I was under 50

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Originally Posted by rrussell1962

I had a week or so of..."How did that happen?" then, well, nothing changed really. I still haven't used my birthday present from the Government. Does it have a use by date?

I'd check the packaging for a date. I'm sure they'll send you out a new one if necessary.
It's an icky process, but well worth taking the time to do.
I was diagnosed at age 44 with the damn disease, and it's only because it was found early that I'm still here, nearly 8 years later, to nag you guys about taking the test.

[GrahamL]

Best wishes to You Hans in your 51st year as the clock has ticked on .

It dosn't always do that for all of us, be thankfull my friend for all the positives in your life and for the stuff you can't change like another year gone ,, see some good in that to

[MattT]

Originally Posted by rrussell1962

I had a week or so of..."How did that happen?" then, well, nothing changed really. I still haven't used my birthday present from the Government. Does it have a use by date?

Yep,
After a while they send you a letter saying you got 6 weeks or else your off the program.....

[Stardrifter_WA]

Happy Birthday to all those that have reached a milestone this year, or who are to reach it next year.

Don't be sad, just think, you have made it! And that should be celebrated.

Cheers Peter

[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

Well its been a good day. Guys at work had a cake for me and I had to endure their ribbing throughout the day, wouldn't have expected less from ex-airforce members. I have also enjoyed reading the responses in this thread and thanks to all for being indulgent in my self serving moment. Also like other IIS members have done in this thread I would like to say congratulations and best wishes to those that reached this milestone age.

[RobF (Rob)]

Originally Posted by MattT

Yep,
After a while they send you a letter saying you got 6 weeks or else your off the program.....

I sent mine back about 4 months late and the results came back quickly. The private path people contracted to do the work will be keen to get a payment for every test returned they can.

The kits are only plasticware for collection and collection media, so there's nothing to go off (well, not much). As long as you send the samples back promptly, all the magic and reagents with expiry periods happens in the lab (very accurate immunometric methods nowadays - much better than the old false positive prone peroxidase/Hb methods).

[Octane (Humayun)]

Happy belated birthday, Hans.

I hope you've ordered that FSQ-130ED. :O

H