The blog of photographer Kim Ayres

The Ultimate Answer to...

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It has been said 42 is the answer to the ultimate question of Life, The Universe and Everything. However, as my son Rogan pointed out this morning it is also the ultimate answer to the ultimate question of “How old is Kim today?”

If I was hoping (and part of me secretly was) for a revelation of wisdomic proportions, then I’ve been disappointed. Although the creation of the word, “wisdomic” might count for something.

Still, the day is going well. I’ve had croissants for breakfast, a fancy chocolate with my espresso, and in amongst the birthday cards was a fantastic drawing of me and my granddaughter by my 4 year old granddaughter.

I’m feeling loved.

Tonight we’re having a few friends round for food, music if anyone brings an instrument and, if Eryl’s reading this, hopefully a bit of storytelling.

We were planning on having a wee bonfire out in the garden, but the very wild, very wet and very windy weather currently sitting over this part of Scotland has scuppered that idea. I did suggest we could try it under the cheap plastic gazebo but it was pointed out to me:

a) it’s not big enough to fit everyone under, as well as a bonfire
b) the rain is largely horizontal so wouldn’t really offer any shelter anyway, and
c) it’s flammable

So now I’m wondering if we could do one in the middle of the living room floor instead.
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33 comments

Anna van Schurman said...

Happy birthday!

You should have asked about the ultimate answer thing. I'm 11 days older than you.

Kim Ayres said...

Well happy birthday for 11 days ago! Are you any wiser?

Eryl Shields said...

Oh no, I feel under pressure now! Better go and brush up.

michael greenwell said...

happy birthday.

maybe you didnt get a revalation because you never truly understood what the question was?

debra said...

happy happy happy---and don't forget your towel :-)

Z said...

Happy birthday! It's been lovely in sunny Norfolk, hope you haven't burned the house down with your indoor bonfire.

Apex Zombie said...

Happy Birthday mate! Croissants, coffee, chocolate, and a bonfire sounds like a fantastic birthday. Sucks about the weather though. It's pretty crappy this way as well.

Jeff said...

Happy Birthday Kim, sorry it's late and hope you day was grand.

Peace

savannah said...

sounds delish, sugar! you just started 42 give it some time, you know, for everything to fall into place all will be revealed







eventually.
happy, happy, joy, joy!
xoxoxo ;-)

Anonymous said...

One good thing about reaching 42,
if you die soon, nobody can say you died young.

Kim Ayres said...

Eryl - you were superb - I love that story :) Thank you so much for coming along!

Michael - isn't that always the way?

Debra - thank you :)

Z - we didn't need the bonfire on the floor in the end. We decided to use the fireplace instead. Although the surrounds are now covered in bits of burnt and melted marshmallow

FLG - it was a great day. It was a shame about the weather, but in the end it made no difference to the enjoyment.

Jeff - thank you - I did :)

Savannah - that's true - I still have another 364 days left :)

Ronnie - that's such a comfort!

Amy Flege said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I hope it ended up being a great one!!! You and my Rylee Jo have birtdays a day apart!

Charlie said...

42! And just yesterday it seemed like you were just a wean of 40!

HB

Kim Ayres said...

Any - there's a family clump of birthdays at this time, with my borther being on the 23rd and his son being the 24th. Apparently I was supposed to be my brother's 4th birthday present but I was a couple of days late. I did bring him a red fire engine though...

Charlie - it was. I age twice as fast as anyone else...

Unknown said...

Happy Belated birthday. I'm coming up on double nickels so if you found wisdom at 42, I feel completely left out. I think a bonfire in the living room is a lovely idea as long as you are a deer. But alas and alack you are human...so no bonfires.

Andraste said...

Happy belated Birthday, Kim! And many more.

Hope you found a place for the bonfire.

FIRE! I like Fire.

Kim Ayres said...

Carole & Andraste - we didn't have a bonfire, but the log burner is now covered in bits of marshmallow...

Unknown said...

Hope you've a happy year ahead, Kim. Sorry I missed marking the day itself. 42, eh?

And you've a four year-old granddaughter I didn't know you had! Should I look back through the archives for this important piece of biography?

redhead83402 said...

happy birrrtthhday to YOUUUU ~ happy BIRTHday to YOUUUUU ~ ah ~ you know the song ~ glad to hear it sounded like a lovely day ~ & I had no idea you had a grandaughter!! What a joy ~ quite frankly, I am looking forward to grandparenting... although I don't mind waiting just a little longer, as my oldest is 16 ~ she can wait till she's at least 22 or so.. At least that's what we've been preaching all these yrs, lol, who knows what life will really bring, eh?
42 isn't so bad ~ in fact, you're still a spring chicken, especially to all the 80 yr-olds reading this. ;-D (and don't tell me otherwise, either, since I only have 5 yrs till I'm there myself!) ;-D
~Red

Pat said...

Forgive me - belated but sincere- blame the French - a most happy happy birthday and may this new year be a good one for you and yours.
By my reckoning you are Scorpio as a I live and breathe with just such a one.
'I desire' to teach that love is passion and learn that love is surrender.'
I wonder what Maggie is?

Kim Ayres said...

Conan - there are a few post scatted around - type Grandad into the blogger search thing in the top left of the page. However, Grandad's Muesli will probably give you enough background info

Red - I have another grandchild on the way, due in December - see Grandad for more info.

And 42 is a fine age to be - people still treat you with respect :)

Pat - Wonderful quote!

If you're into your astrology then it wouldn't be too hard to guess Maggie's a Cancerian :)

Jupiter's Girl said...

Two water signs. Yes, yes, that's why... Plus, your Pisces Moon... very good. I promise to look at your solar return chart today, but first, duty calls.



The Mother of Teens, coming soon to a theater near you. I took them both shopping last night. I have to make returns today. Not a chore I am looking foward to, so I am getting it over with right now.

Happiest year ever. Much peace and love to you and yours.

Jupiter's Girl said...

Back from that deed. The costume store didn't want to refund my daughter's hard-earned money she put out for a skanky ragdoll costume for Halloween. I was hang-jawed at the price - $50. They returned the money, anyway. I wasn't in the store with her when she bought it.

I just read Eryl's blog entry about your birthday dinner. She's such a good writer. Her description gave visuals, and if I imagined hard enough, I got textures and tastes too. I so wished I could experience something like that - it sounded so cozy and satiating on all levels.

Kim Ayres said...

JG - glad you got your daughter's money back.

Eryl's description of my birthday was wonderful. It allowed me to appreciate it from a different perspective.

BStrong said...

Oh yeah! 42 hahahahahah! Happy Birthday. Sorry for not staying in touch.

Love ya man
B

Kim Ayres said...

Glad you're still alive!

Pat said...

'It was not,she knew, that night had come, but something as dark as night had come. No, worse than that. It had not come, but it had sent that shiver through the sea to say it was coming. What was it?'

Linda Goodman's 'Love Signs.'
All I can say is - bloody 'ell!

Kim Ayres said...

Is that Cancerians, or Cancerians when they meet Scorpios?

Kanani said...

Ah, I missed it. Too bogged down in my world, which is completely inexcusable.

But Happy birthday! You're young!!

Mary Witzl said...

A belated Happy Birthday, Kim. Wish I were there for the food and the music -- and the rain!!

You probably won't believe me, but I envy you the rain from the bottom of my heart. It's dry and windblown here, and when it rained the other day I could have happily tap-danced my way home -- and I can't even tap-dance.

Kim Ayres said...

Kanani - I know - I'm not worrying about being old yet :)

Mary - had you been in Scotland I would have expected you here and accepted no excuses.

Pat said...

Cancer woman meeting Scorpio man.

Kim Ayres said...

Pat - ah. I'll have to confer with Maggie to see whether she felt that way, although I always suspected she just felt sorry for me...

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