I remember when I created my first post of the new year; I made the bold prediction that 2026 was going to be a year to remember.
Now we are at the halfway point, it certainly has been so far. The only downside is that I appear to be living in a parallel universe.
When I made that statement, it was my way of pushing towards a series of personal and professional targets. And during the first few months, I was well on my way to meeting those targets.
Unfortunately, I was unaware of the stuff going on in the background.
At this point, I would like to point out that this is not another cancer post. The Thyroid Diaries II is and remains a separate issue.
And there is plenty to come on that front.
I am annoyed that I have had to put my other targets on hold till next year and having to step back from the radio till later this year, but I am adamant that it will happen.
No parallel universe stuff this time.
We are currently in a state of limbo, so I thought at this point I would rewind a bit to something that had been in the planning for months, a perfect way to mark my moving one step closer to official retirement.
It took me a while to get used to it, but when I started earning, I promised myself to be a bit more adventurous when it came to doing things and socialising. The obvious example has been that I have been able to travel in style when meeting with the Butlins Family.
I am eating out more, not high-class restaurants, not on my wages, but I have developed a passion for two styles of eating: tapas and afternoon teas. One of those occasions where you can indulge in posh style flavoursome food, without worrying about guilt, indigestion – or both afterwards.
Since we discovered the joys of afternoon tea, we decided that we wanted to confine it to special occasions, which we have done so far, anniversary afternoon teas at the plush surroundings in Edinburgh: like The Witchery (very atmospheric) Holyrood Palace, (because we are worth it).
Then last month, it was decided that as I was approaching that point in my life where I became a certain vintage; I wanted to do something special. So you should on your Birthday.
Afternoon Tea it was.
And to make things different I thought that it would be a cool idea to do so at Edinburgh Castle and at the Redcoat Room. We then spent several weeks debating whether we turned up in our Red and Whites. Would it fit the occasion, or would we confuse the tourists?
Then we discovered that the only thing they did in the Redcoat Room was cans of juice, pizza soup, etc. Not the posh kind of celebration I had in mind.
Thankfully, a Plan B emerged. Edinburgh Castle did do afternoon tea after all. And what a setting!
The last time I was in Edinburgh Castle, I was bored out of my skull, but a visit to Cardiff Castle changed all that. Suddenly it was a cool thing to do when it came to taking in Medieval History, providing that there were stuff in the room.
You have got to have something to talk about, and a reason for getting the camera out.
I was now looking forward to visiting Edinburgh Castle, even more so for another session of afternoon tea at a historic setting that I have never experienced before. I could not think of a better way to celebrate one’s birthday.
The price included entry to the actual castle, where we got to take in several historical artifacts, various assortments of lethal weapons from back in the day and could still cause damage in today’s society given half the chance, assuming that there were people daft enough to try.
Thankfully, they were so secure, not even Mr Universe could prise them free from their surroundings. From a touristy (made up word) it was an impressive sight. And I have got plenty of pictures to prove it.
And as an added bonus, there were those unofficial tourist guides, leading their various groups using all their energies trying to create the impression that they knew what they were talking about. I was expecting to see those groups later taking pictures of a gun going off at 1pm.
But I was hungry, and the afternoon tea venue was open for business. Not before time.
I was feeling an element of excitement as I was directed to a table; it felt like an old style medieval room with modern tables and chairs. We had the Champers option, but of course.
It was my birthday after all.
I was quietly impressed with the selection (delicious) and to give it another old style touch, there was harp music playing in the background. What we did not expect was that one of the tunes was an old Beatles number.
Then the music changed to the second dance at my Wedding. That was it; we were broken.
When it was over, we walked out towards the grand finale – the O’clock Gun.
I did not see anything, but you could say that my Birthday ended on a bang.
(Taxi!)
