60th Birthday Celebration

OK, so a bloke has hit the big 60.

Bells, whistles, and camera flashes - it has all been happening. Its just like hitting the speed limit and getting caught - you probably know you're getting close, and then whammo!

Yes 60 at last! It has all been a bit of a dizzy whirl. The years have just flown by. I don't feel anything like 60, or at least how a 60 year old ought to feel by popular consensus. And there's another mathematical oddity too.

I'm a 'Baby-boomer'. I belong to a generation with statistically better longelivety than any earlier generation. According to the ABS, I can expect to be kicking on for nearly another 20 years. Curiously, I have probably managed to shorten the odds over the years. I smoked for a while as a young bloke, I have had a couple of stints on active service in the Navy, I rode a motorcyle for ages, tried skydiving some years ago, and nowdays I carry too much weight, I don't exercise enough, and for ages I have probably have annoyed the heck out of some good folk. (Can you imagine - a virgo who specialises in Aviation Safety Compliance and Conformance with a military background). It might be said all could be serious life limiting factors.

So turning 60 was an event that caught me by surprise. Although we have been planning for ages, suddenly the big day was on us. I had an absolute ball thanks to your kind and generous support. Now its a pleasant memory, and one I can go on recalling through the beaut photos which I have on the blog spot.

The celebration was at the famous Adelaide Oval on Saturday night the 25th of August. Leonie and Dan booked the classy Gil Langley room in the top of the Sir Donald Bradman stand, and we had a great vantage point looking out over the Adelaide oval and the sky line to the North including the score-board and the spires of St Peter's Cathedral. Leonie especially arranged for a birthday greeting for me on the score-board which was left illuminated for the evening. Dare I say it was a 'stand-out' success. Photos below will help. Apparently they left the message up there until last Tuesday!

I'm sure the question was asked several times, "Who the hell is this Neville dude who likes to go flying?"

Anyhow, I was really delighted with this. I'm sure it is going to be the only time I will ever get my name up in lights and on such a famous platform. Thanks Leonie, cheers Dan. A real highlight - pun intended.

So where to now? The funny thing is, the lure of access to a Veteran's pension, tax free super, free time to finish the zillion things I have in mind and currently on the plate just doesn't cut the mustard. I enjoy my work and want to keep at it. Maybe I'll 'transition' to retirement. You know, it's the trendy new catch phrase to keep experienced and qualified BB'ers in the workforce and productive when we might want to ease off the accelerator. So now days we let go slowly to allow the numbers and the quality of life to stay 'in the slot'.

What has got me this far I'm proud to say, is that I have the love and support of a great family, terrific friends and really good work mates. Last Saturday night we partied in style to help me make a good start on the next 60 years, and I thank you all for that.

I hope we will all see the next 60 years through together too, and I have included here a nice selection of party pix for you to enjoy. If I can work out how to do it, I might even include a short video.

Before I shoot through, I would like to acknowledge the very special effort put in by Dianne (thanks for your 60 years in 60 seconds speech), daughter Leonie, son Russell and son-in-law Daniel, all of whom worked hard to ensure a memorable occasion. The gifts from everyone were fabulous and much appreciated. I think my wine rack is just about full again, and the gift voucher for a ride in the warbird was a real surprise. That will be a fantastic occasion. I plan to save it until December when Dianne's Dad, Lance comes over to Adelaide for Christmas holidays and he too can share the fun - as I hope all of you will. Please come out on the day and have some fun. See me throw up while upside down, and Dianne and Pete S face the challenge of tandem parachute jumps. Yeeha - just like old times.

OK, no more messing around, lets have a look at some nice pix...

(Don't forget to click on each pic for a larger image)

(If you want the original hi-res version, place your mouse pointer over the pic and note the pop-up file name then email me).

Russell, Leonie, Dianne, Neville
Loretta, Tony, Peter H, Neville
Neville, Peter S, Peter H, Loretta, Chris and Sharkey
Dianne, Neville, Tony and Sharon
Caroline, Dan and Wendy
Kevin and Russell
Leonie and Dan
Russell and Leonie
Dianne and Neville
Caroline and Shane
Leonie and Caroline
Horse, Leonie and Russell
Russell, Leonie, Dianne and Neville
Wendy and Horse
Caroline and Shane
Ray and Hans
Gary and Kevin
Gary and Kevin
Peter H and Sharkey
Paul, Carol and Neville
Loretta and Chris
Colin and Sue
Sharon and Dianne
Marilyn, Reg and George
Marilyn, Reg and George
Caroline and Marilyn
Leonie and George
Wendy, Dianne and Gary
Leonie and Dianne
Dan and Reg
Caroline and Wendy
Kevin
Kevin and Marilyn
Delvina, Reg, Neville, Drita, Fetije, Musa and Lali
Neville & Fetije
Most of the happy gang
Neville, Peter S, Peter H, Loretta, Chris & Sharkey
Leonie and Dianne
Caroline and Leonie
Security Guard and Wendy
Pam and Reg

PLEASE LEAVE ANY COMMENTS / OBSERVATIONS ON THIS BLOG SITE FOR OTHERS TO READ - BUT PLEASE, ONLY IF YOU ARE BEING KIND TO ME
Nifty 'Neville the Devil' (with gifts from the Townsville Mob)