Yesterday was my birthday.

It only seems like last year I was 40 and writing my list of 40 things to do at 40. But yesterday I was 43 years old! Where did those three years go? Two years of covid lockdowns and restrictions have confused my brain into thinking that nothing happened and therefore time stood still. It is like a black hole of nothingness, where nothing happened but time moved on faster than ever. So here I am, 43 and I still have 35 things on my list of 40 to complete.

Earlier this year I made the difficult decision to stop a big part of my business, Home Boarding for dogs. This is what got the business started and what I enjoy the most, looking after dogs while the owners are on holiday. However, after 6 years, the commitment required to do this has taken its toll. I am tired because I sleep on the sofa with the dogs (yes I really am that crazy) and I need time for myself and family. I need my evenings and weekends to be able to complete my list of 40 things to do in my 40s. As of January 2023 I will no longer be Home Boarding, except for the few that were already booked in.

I am really looking forward to taking the time away from the dogs and getting some of those items checked off my bucket list. I now have 7 years to complete 35 things, an average of 5 things a year. The list of 40 will remain a secret to you all, with only each item being revealed after I have completed it. This is for two reasons; the first being to keep you all in suspense, and the second is in case I need to change or amend any of it. For instance, one item was to walk on the Great Wall of China. Since Covid, Leanne refuses to go abroad and especially not to China, so it looks like I will have to scrap that and think of another option.

Now, back to my birthday yesterday, it was a nice quiet one. I worked all day with the doggos which was fabulous as always. Leanne cooked me my favourite dinner of vegan sausages and mash potato, bloody lush! We went out for a meal on Wednesday night instead, with our friends Emma and Martina, to the Star Chinese in Swansea. If you have not been here then I highly recommend you go. It is one of those Chinese restaurants that are so good all the Chinese people eat there. They have a whole vegan menu, which is basically the same menu as the non-vegan menu, but with vegan versions. They had duck, beef, pork, chicken and prawns! Obviously we had to try one of each “meat” for research purposes 😉

I have to say, that the food was delicious, especially the chicken with green peppers in a black bean sauce and the pork chow mein. The special fried rice was also amazing. If you are ever in Swansea, go check it out. We had a fabulous evening.

I rate the Star Chinese in Swansea as an 8/10

Absolutely gutted I did not take any photo’s of the food, we had a feast!

Happy Birthday to ME……..