“That’s right,” said Eeyore. “Sing. Umty-tiddly, umty-too. Here we go gathering Nuts and May. Enjoy yourself.”
“I am,” said Pooh.
“Some can,” said Eeyore.
“Why, what’s the matter?”
“Is anything the matter?”
“You seem so sad, Eeyore.”
“Sad? Why should I be sad? It’s my birthday. The happiest day of the year.”

— from Winnie-the-Pooh by A A Milne


Since I am 50 today, I suppose it is pretty much obligatory to note that in some way, even if time as we know it is somewhat arbitrarily based on the passage of a small blue planet around a hydrogen gas giant in the rather minor Orion–Cygnus Arm of the Milky Way galaxy.

But convention is convention, and half a century is a fairly long period of time to be alive.  During that time I have lived through eleven different UK Prime Ministers, thirteen FIFA world cups (of which England has won zero, and has come close to winning the same number), eleven Star Wars films (of which around five are probably worth watching, and not including Ewoks, Caravan of Courage) and seven novels by Dan Brown (although it feels like more). Continue reading →