Many thanks to my friends and family for their good wishes on my becoming an even older git than I was previously. My dearest T spoilt me with presents and took me on a mystery tour. We ended up in Armagh at the planetarium. It was brilliant. And because of the wet and windy day, there were very few there, so it felt like the show was just for us. I hadn’t been to a planetarium since I was a child, when my parents took me to the one near Madame Tussauds in London. After the sky show we visited the Armagh Observatory, founded by Archbishop Robinson in 1790, and saw the old telescopes. This was the same man who founded the magnificent library where my new book of poems, ‘True’, was recently launched. We wandered through the grounds then went for a slap-up meal. It was a great day out. And during it, I did reflect on ageing and how far I’d come.
Despite the inevitable drawbacks, it is good to become old. Many people do not. My first wife, Gill, and my younger brother, Robert, were both taken well before their time. I also thought of family members and friends who are currently struggling with serious medical conditions. I’ve come through advanced cancer and I’m still well enough to enjoy an active life. That is a great blessing. This old git will continue to do his best to make the most of every day.
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