The blog of photographer Kim Ayres

43 Today!

.
And yet, despite this momentous occasion, Google don’t seem to have created a special logo for me!

Ah well, it appears despite the shit the gods like to throw at us, I have survived another year.

43 feels like a fairly non-descript age – it doesn’t have a 0 at the end, it’s barely early-forties, not quite mid-forties. It’s a prime number, but that ceases to have any meaning beyond maths lessons when you’re 12.

However, it does mean I’ve passed the average life expectancy for a man living in Liberia (41.84), Sierra Leone (41.24), Mozambique (41.18), Lesotho (40.38), Zambia (38.63), Angola (38.20), and Swaziland (31.88). And if I live as long as the average British male, I have 36 and half years left.

Elvis was 42 when he died, so I’ve lasted longer than him too.

Among my birthday cards this morning was one from my grandchildren, which included this badge:



And this drawing from my granddaughter, Poppy, which illustrates when I was up taking photos of them last time I was there:



Left to right:
Door, Poppy's mum, her younger brother, me, the camera on a tripod, Poppy herself, her baby brother, and then I'm guessing SpongeBob SquarePants on the TV.

.

66 comments

Peaches said...

Happy Birthday...the 40's are the best of times.

A Daft Scots Lass said...

Love Poppy's artwork. I love kids art...its so damn honest.

Happy Bearded Birthday.

Unknown said...

wow... 43 and already a granddad? my mom is already 50 and my dad is nearly 60 but they still don't have any grandkids. and I'm still 20!! oh shoot. >.<

Pat said...

Haapppppyyyy Birrrtthhdayyy!!! =D

mapstew said...

Have a good one Kim.

:¬)

savannah said...

happy birthday, sugar! we're going to find a really, really, really good card for you! xoxoxoxoxo

Sausage Fingers said...

Kim, Happy birthday and all the best to you, soon you can change your name to ~ Ramblings of the grey bearded one.

Melanie said...

Best Wishes! Love birthday cards, no one here sends them anymore; always a text message. It sucks.

Ron said...

43? You are just a mere youngster (from my vantage point of 68 years of age in a few weeks.)
Get out and kick your heels up and do the Irish Jig when you can Kim because when you reach my age you'll say "God, I wish I was 43 again!"

Happy birthday Ole Bearded One. :)

hope said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! May good things and happiness follow you all through the year....well, at LEAST for the day. :)

Yep, 40s were a blast and so far, the um..."next" level hasn't been so bad. Course I haven't been in it long.

Love the drawing...and I agree that it must be Sponge Bob. Nice portrait of you as well.

Anna van Schurman said...

Having been 43 for 11 whole days, I agree that it is rather nondescript. Thanks for providing the information on Africa; at least I'm not dead yet.

Happy Birthday!

Lisa Page Rosenberg said...

Happy Birthday Mr. Ramblings. I found 43 to be the year where everything came together. Enjoy.

Pat said...

Happy Birthday, Kim! May you have many more!

I turned 54 on the 11th, and it didn't hurt a bit. Course at this age I don't remember too much, but I'm just saying.....

Unknown said...

Happy birthday! And may another 40 blessed years lie ahead of you!

And - that's a lovely picture of Poppy!

Chastity Flyte said...

Have a great day, Ramblings! Nevermind Elvis, 50 and Michael Jackson is the target to beat...

Mary Witzl said...

Happy Birthday, Kim. Glad you're back!

Anonymous said...

Hahaha... that's wonderful! Happy, happy Birthday!

Sir Jackson Peaks said...

Happy Birthday, Kim! I hope this day finds you well and with everything you need, right around you. I have just grabbed my seat at my writing desk and my first cup of coffee is in front of me--this first cup is for you! Happy Birthday!

Kim Ayres said...

Peaches - so far I would agree :)

Gillian - she's a talented one - and of course I'm not biased in any way...

Hungry Kitchen - I was 37 when my stepdaughter asked if I'd prefer to be called Grandad or Grandpa...

Patrick - thank you :)

Mapstew - thank you:)

Savannah - just one with my name spelt right is all I ask :)

Sausage Fingers - I've had a few grey hairs in my beard for several years, but they seem to have stablised at the moment

Melanie - I have some lovely home-made ones from the kids, so I'm happy to accept texts from everyone else. I'd be a bit cheesed off if the kids just sent texts though...

Ron - I could easily blame my CFS for not having the energy to kick up my heels in an Irish Jig, but to be honest I was never a dancer. I can however, play Irish jigs on the mandolin

Hope - I think she's really captured the essence of me - especially the triangular body shape :)

Anna - Happy Birthday for 9 days ago! October '66 was clearly an awesome month for births :)

Lisa - thank you :)

Pat - I suspect the majority of visitors to these ramblings are older than I am. I might do a poll one day :)

Punders - thank you :)

Chastity - well I passed Bruce Lee and Christ a decade ago...

Mary - thank you :)

Julie - thank you :)

Sir Jackson Peaks - I've just had my last coffee of the day - I have to limit myself to 2 a day otherwise I would be drinking them constantly

Entrepreneur Chick said...

Adorable picture from Poppy! Sponge Bob- hahahaha.

My African-American husband, who's not exactly a fan of high minded Yorkies, asked, "How long do Yorkshire Terriers live?"

My Yorkie also inquired, "How long do African-American males expect to make it, Mommy? I hate him."

Entrepreneur Chick said...

Oh, gosh.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Brave Astronaut said...

Happy Birthday! I ate a cupcake last night. Had I remembered, I would have put a candle in it and toasted you on your special day.

A.T. Post said...

Many happy returns! Man, the dudes in Swaziland have it tough.

Jayne Martin said...

Happy Birthday, Kim

My forties were my favorite decade and now that I'm 60, and 60 is the new 40, I get to do it all over again! May all your birthday wishes come true.

Jayne

Falak said...

Happy Birthday! May you have a great year ahead and many more such birthdays your way. Your granddaughter's artwork is sooo cute:) That poll about the age of your visitors would be fun to read;)

Barlinnie said...

Happy Birthday pal, I'll raise a glass to you tonight.

St Jude said...

Happy birthday gramps.

LegalMist said...

Definitely Spongebob Squarepants.

Or, as I like to say when I'm tormenting my kids, "Good ol' what's-his-name ... uh ... RobertSponge Circlepants. . . . or is that, "SpongeDave TriangleShirt?" And so on until they are literally screaming "NOOOOO!!! It's SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS!!!"

It's so easy to torture my kids. ;)

Unknown said...

HEy Kim Happy Birthday!!!! Hope U had a nice time !

Charlie said...

Happy birthday, Kim. You're wrong about Elvis, though--he's still alive because people see him every day.

Unknown said...

Happy birthday!!!

P said...

Happy Birthday Kim
Life has an unassailable momentum!

Hindsfeet said...

Well, looks like from the drawing "the gods" have thrown some pretty Good shit your way too...Looks like at least four good reasons in the pic to lend a little Happiness to your birthday...I'd go on here to say it's "the little things", but God, those are some pretty BIG things to be Happy about...

A quote that means a lot to me when my birthdays roll around, having had a pretty challenging life myself (we'll leave it at that) is this..."Perhaps God doesn't primarily want us to be 'Happy', perhaps being 'Happy' is NOT the be-all-end-all that we've made it out to be; I think He wants us to shift our focus, zoom out a bit from OUR lives and OUR 'Happiness', He wants us to learn to love and to learn to BE loved, He wants us to Grow up."

Ironically, embracing this philosophy has, I think, I hope, enabled me to bring a lot more Happiness to others and to myself, than if I had been striving after Happiness itself.

Life's quirky that way.

Happy Birthday...

Alan Richardson said...

Many happy returns of the day, Kim.

Alan

jen said...

Happy birthday Kim! My family has a 43 curse--someone from each generation (for the last 5 that I know of) has died at age 43 (my father, his mother as well as her sister, their uncle,his mother and her uncle). I am the youngest of this generation and my siblings have all made it past the dreaded 4-3. I was 40 in March. I know it's just coincidence, but it's still nagging in the back of my mind. I enjoy every moment. Be glad you are not a member of my family!

I've learned that in children's artwork, the size of their subjects equals the importance of that person in their lives. It's pretty impressive that you are second only to mum. Also impressive is that Poppy herself isn't the largest (most young children are incredibly self-centered--obviously yours is not).

Have a happy day and year of 43!

Pat said...

Happy Birthday dear Kim.
Is Poppy's mum very tall?
I see you have another Pat now - confusing for you:)

Anonymous said...

You are a young whippersnapper! Happy birthday Kim and many more to come!

Helen said...

Hey Bearded One - October is a glorious month for birthdays! There seems to be so many of them. I think it had something to do with the hot weather in January and people wearing a lot less clothes (or something).
I turned 39 on the 19th. I feel like it's a really non-descript age - not quite young and stupid, but not quite old and together. Sigh.

"Suffer in your undies" is the appropriate comment when someone has been well and truly trounced by someone of younger or inferior status. ie: "suffer in your undies" rang out across the school yard, as the crowd of scruffy grade two's watched "Big Bad Billy" bested by "Nancy-pants McGee" etc.

Miss Blue Sky said...

Happy Birthday Kim!
You're right, it is Spongebob! Poppy was delighted that you put her picture on your blog. Did you have a nice birthday?
I got the postcard this week, it was lovely to hear from you all and I'm glad you had a good time, thanks.X

Kim Ayres said...

Entrepreneur Chick - thank you :)

Brave Astronaut - you know, I believe you would :)

Postman - they do indeed

Jayne - the longer we last, the less peer pressure there is :)

Falak - the more I think about the poll, the more curious about the answer I become. Mind you, there might be a few people who don't want to admit their age...

Jimmy - cheers!

St Jude - thank you :)

LegalMist - it's more fun to wind up the grandchildren just before leaving - it's a kind of payback to their parent for the sleepless nights they gave you when they were young...

Anez - thank you, I did :)

Charlie - oddly enough they see him as he was when he was 42, rather than the 74 he'd now be.

Gita - thank you :)

P - until it stops...

Hindsfeet - if there is a God, he has not made himself known to me in any way that I would understand. In fact, if there is a God, then given the vast amount of horrors in the world, he is so at odds with the idea of a loving one who wants what's best for us, that he is not worthy of my worship nor attention.

Each to their own, and if you wish to write about your beliefs on your site, I will not come and impose my athiestic ways in your comments.

I appreciate your intentions are well meaning, so I ask out of politeness if you will please refrain from advising me what you think your god's intentions are for my life.

Thank you :)

Alan - thank you :)

Jen - now there's a thing to tell me on my 43rd birthday...

Pat - she's about an inch taller than me, although her legs are considerably longer, which is probably more noticable when you're the height of a 6 year old :)

Starrlife - my wife, along with most of my friends, is older than me, which means if I ever complain about my age I get no sympathy whatsoever

Helen - Happy birthday for last week!

Kim Ayres said...

Layla - whoops, I missed you in the ether there somewhere. I had a great birthday thanks, and I've been wearing my badge all day :)

GirlBoyGirl said...

Happy Birthday! It's strange to think that the life expectancy in some countries is so low! I had no idea that on average many people don't even reach what we in North America would consider mid-life!

That picture is adorable!

Vicky said...

Happy Birthday, enjoy your 40's I am.

Ed said...

Happy Birthday Kim!

Just like wine and cheese, some things get better with age.

May God bless you and you family in the year ahead.

Christy said...

Happy birthday!

Cannwin said...

Interpretation of child art, now that's a talent you don't want to lose. It's up there with deciphering child writing. I don't know why google is slacking on you, clearly you're going places in this world.

Happy Birthday! Hope you got to sleep in (that's all I ever ask for anymore). :)

stinkypaw said...

Just realised we're the same age, wow! Actually you're a month older than I am

erika said...

Happy birthday, Kim! I wish you all kinds of good stuff.

Katie Roberts said...

Ohhhh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!...You made me laugh so hard, (thank you i really needed that today!) Loved the drawing, it was great to see who features largest in her life...! Hilarious, what a lucky GRANDad. Hope you had a smashing day! Katie

Long dark hair, blue eyes said...

Happy Birthday. I hope you have a nice day!

BB said...

Happy Birthday Kim(osabe) oh great white bearded.I digg your Blog more than the ancient lone ranger cartoons.hugh.
Peace.

Coralee said...

and a happy birthday to you...you youngster...with an old soul. ..a great combination

Helen Mac said...

Happy Birthday Kim for yesterday.
25 October is a great date. You share your anniversary with my late grandmother and also my own wedding anniversary - cause for much celebration. I hope you enjoyed the day, despite the non-descript number of years!

QueenJ said...

Happy birthday! Make sure you did something unique to mark it... I like the new look blog too!

Dan said...

Happy birthday for yesterday!

Don’t know if you go in for these matey, but I have an award for you on my blog, so feel free to collect. If you prefer to remain an enigma, that’s fine as well.

Hope you had a good time yesterday.

Suz said...

Happy Birthday. 43 is still a youngster in my book. Each decade has something new to offer - some good, some not-so-good - but all worth experiencing.

Enjoyed your granddaughter's artwork - very detailed. It's a keeper!

Deidra said...

I'm beginning to wonder if I'm the youngest reader here...

Many happy returns, sir! :)

Kim Ayres said...

Sandra - we live in a cocoon in the west compared to many places. It's reckoned that over a billion people live on less than a dollar a day - and that's going to affect your life chances.

Vicky - thank you, and I'm glad you are :)

Ed - thank you :) Although if there is a god I'd prefer he turned his attention to the children who suffer blindness brought about by parasitic worms, or other important things he seems to missed.

Christy - thank you :)

Cannwin - ah, sleep. One good, really decent night's sleep. How wonderful that would be :) I wonder what it's like?

Stinkypaw - we'd have been in the same year at school then!

Erika - thank you :)

Katie - it doesn't look so good for her baby brother yet...

Long Dark Hair - thank you :)

Bonequinhoda bic - do you know the one about the Lone Ranger buried up to his neck and given one last request? Doesn't everyone?

Coralee - mind you, there's a lot to be said for and old person with a young soul :)

Helen - I've always struggled to find significant dates beyond the gunfight at the OK coral, the battle of agincourt and Picasso's birthday. Now I have a few more to add :)

Queen J - thank you - it took a few hours (see 2 or 3 posts ago) :)

Dan - thank you Dan - much appreciated. I generally don't get too involved in the awards stuff because they usually end up getting passed on to the same people. However, I appreciate the sentiment, thank you :)

Suz - the more decades the better. I'm looking forward to seeing what my 15th one will be like :)

Deidra - that depends how young you are - but I'm toying with the idea of doing a poll to gain an idea of the average age of this blog's readership :)

ArleneWKW said...

Happy birthday. You need to get to age 60 to "pass" life though. Like the old grading system: 60=D, 70=C, 80=B, 90 and above=A With your healthful habits, you'll most likely "pass" life with a high grade, as long as you manage to open your parachute when jumping from high flying objects.

Tatyana Vinogradsky said...

Haha, super cute! I love how the little brother is laying on the floor- kids are so cute

JRS said...

Happy belated birthday to my new favorite rambling bearded one. (as opposed to my old favorite rambling bearded one? Wait, now I'm rambling)
---Jen

snoble24 said...

she drew a cute yet intresting picture. im sure you are a grand grandpa.

Unknown said...

Happy Belated! I've got one coming up in less than 2 months. The Big 4-0! I'm excited. Hope you had a wonderful day!!! Here's to many many more!

Jasmine said...

Happy (belated) birthday! Hope it was wonderful and your grandchildren are sweet. :) Here's to another year!

Katie Roberts said...

Ummm,Yes...I was thinking baby brother appears to have the status of a ball with flippers! :)

Kim Ayres said...

Arlene - nice idea :)

Tatyana - they certainly can be :)

Jen - out with the old and in with the older...

Snoble24 - so far she seems to think so, which is what's important :)

Roschelle - another child of the 60s :)

Jasmine - thank you :)

Katie - given someone else's comment that the TV looked like a basketball hoop, perhaps we should be worried...

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