Yesterday was my birthday! I don’t usually post anything very personal about myself or my family, but I thought that perhaps it’s now time for a sneak peek into me and my life.
Family
I’m one of three girls
I have three children – Steven, Craig and Lisa
My son Craig, died in a car accident when he was 18
I have three grandchildren – brothers, Jake, Lucas and Hudson – children of my son Steven
Me
I tend to get carried away sometimes, and think I can find time to do everything.
I’ve had four fractures -both arms and two bones in my spine, At the moment my left arm is broken.
When I was a child I was extremely shy, I can remember hiding behind my mother or father, so as not to be seen.
I’m quite boring and I don’t care
I have food issues
I hated school, both primary and secondary
I’ve loved learning as an adult
When I was young, I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher, until I was told that I wasn’t smart enough
I was President of our community association for two terms
I’m not very confident. although I’ve done things during my lifetime that require confidence
I hosted exchange students from Japan, Belgium, and Germany
My favourite food is vegie frittata
My favourite colour is a particular shade of green
My favourite cake is an old fashioned sponge cake
One of my hobbies is gardening
I always thought I could catch a rabbit by putting salt on his tail -my grandfather told me this. I believed him!
I love listening to podcasts. I listen in the car and while walking
My favourite dessert is home made apple crumble
My favourite vegetables are silverbeet and brussels sprouts (weird, I know)
My favourite drink is my morning latte, followed by water
I was bitten by a dog when I was 8 years old
I had a 2 hour session with a clairvoyant about eight years ago.
In the 1980s, I owned Tots Town, a store with everything for baby
I’m obsessed with genealogy and family history
I love reading cook books, even though I have boring tastes in food
I’ve made many patchwork quilts
I feel sick when I smell garlic
I slept overnight in the elephant enclosure at the Melbourne Zoo
I’m annoyingly impatient
I love elephants
Travel
In 1996 I visited my penfriend in San Francisco
In 1998 I visited the above friend in Sante Fe, New Mexico
I’ve been to Canada four times – in all seasons
I’ve been on the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada twice
I slept in a tent overnight in the Daintree rainforest at Diane Cilento’s retreat
I’ve been to USA five times
I went on the first Unlock The Past genealogy cruise around New Zealand in 2011
I went to RootsTech at Salt Lake City USA in 2016 and can’t wait to go back
Life
I have lived in 18 houses in my lifetime
I live totally off the grid, on 20 acres, on the edge of a National Park
I lived in my hometown for 52 years
I was hit by a car when riding my bike twice – once at age 8, and again at age 54
I bought a cafe. I had never even worked in a cafe
I started a business in 1977 with my husband. I was very successful and we sold it after 30 years
I used to be a chocohoholic
I walked the Camino de Santiago to celebrate my 60th birthday
Fitness
I was back up crew for Oxfam -100k walk
Eleven years ago, I was an ambassador for Michelle Bridges 12wbt program
I’ve participated in eight Great Victorian Bike Rides
I’ve participated in three multi day cycling events in Queensland
I’ve participated in two South Australian and one Tasmanian multi day cycle events
I love swimming
I’ve been a keen cyclist since my daughter was a baby on the baby seat behind me
I completed Coastrek
I was an aerobics instructor
I completed The Seven Bridges walk in Sydney
I walked 100k from Melbourne to Sorrento
I cycled around Wales with my daughter in 2004
I was a swim teacher
I was a gym manager
I’ve done many fun runs
I love strength training
I have my own fully equipped purpose built home gym
This post is linked to Denyse’s Life This Week and Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share
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I love that you’re a boring person but that you just don’t care (enough to say it twice!) I feel the same way about myself. And apple crumble is my “last meal on death row” dessert choice. You’ve done some really interesting stuff over the years Jen – a life well lived! And a big happy birthday for yesterday. 🙂
Chris just pointed out that o had the boring bit twice, and I forgot the Camino. Have corrected it now. I need an editor 😂
I definitely don’t think you are boring Jen.
I think you are amazing and should have added incredibly kind to your list.
Thanks for your lovely comments Jude xx
Jennifer great summation, for what it’s worth I don’t think you are at all boring and you left out Camino de Santiago 1000k walk, that was an awesome achievement.
Chris just pointed out that I forgot the Camino. I had another one twice so have slotted it in. Can’t believe it slipped my mind
What a lovely way to get to know you further, Jen and You are definitely not boring! I think your idea of listing things about you is a wonderful way to express who you are and for others to learn more about you and from you. I’ll have to try it! Have a great week and glad you arm is on the mend. #lifethisweek
Pleased you enjoyed reading it Sue. Thanks for popping in again
Jennifer, These 67 facts show that you’re not boring. You’ve accomplished a lot. Happy belated birthday! Thank you for letting us know more about you.
P.S. The Weekend Coffee Share is still open for another five hours so feel free to link up your post. I had a request to extend the end time. I extended it to midnight Sunday night. Toronto time is behind your time so it’s still Sunday where I am.
Thanks Natalie. I made it to #weekendcoffeeshare before cutoff
Jennifer, I’m glad you made it to the link-up. Your list of 67 has many good ideas for people who may be looking for things to do. Thank you for sharing this. #weekendcoffeeshare
Thanks Natalie.
Jen I had to laugh that you have this amazing list of things but also say you’re boring!!! Wow, you’ve done so many things and lived so many lives with more to come!!!
PS. I did Michelle Bridges 12WBT in 2011 (twice). God it was such a cult-thing for a while! I remember the adoration a Qld ambassador (Ange) got from participants when we had local events!
You are right in what you say about #12wbt. It did become a bit cultish. No so now, as it’s much bigger. I know Qld Ange. I was ambassador at same time. Thanks for comments
I LOVE this & will be borrowing for my birthday next month! Happy birthday.
Thanks Jo. Look forward to reading your list
You cheated, you repeated a line :” I’m quite boring and I don’t care”, unless of course you’re trying to reinforce that 🤣🤣🤣 I’m so glad I was on the first Genealogy cruise so that we could meet. But of course I am not happy that we share the loss of a son. Thanks for sharing this list with us.
Chris found the double up. I also forgot the Camino, so slotted it in. Geez we had some fun on that cruise. Remember Tom? Sharing the loss Of a son is something we never expected back then
What a fabulous list Jen, we have quite a few things in common! I loved reading your list and would definitely say you’re not boring!! happy birthday to you 🙂
Thanks Feb. I’m intrigued that we have a few things from the list in common
This was a fun read. Nice way to share tidbits of yourself that we might not get from your regular posts. If you don’t mind, I might borrow this idea for a future post. If you are boring, I must be dead.
Thanks Suzanne. I’d love for you to borrow my idea. I’d love to read your post.
I read this when you first published it and all I could think was how hard you are on yourself. So many different, exciting and challenging achievements there Jen. Love that you could share so many too.
Thank you for joining us this week for #lifethisweek. Next time, the optional prompt is 6/51 Decision. 8 Feb. and I hope to see your next blog post there too. Cheers, Denyse.
Thanks for your kind comments Denyse