It's fab to be forty !

In the current climate of ice, snow and slush it is really fab to be 40 ! The reason for this is that I have gone past the stage of having to look totally fabulous in adverse weather conditions, choosing instead to be dry, warm and safe.All week I have put on my work suit, but underneath there was a littel vest, two pairs of socks ( one pair belonging to GASP) and my 20 year old hiking boots. With my scarf and warm coat, I may not have cut a fashion swathe but I was warm,did not fall over and my lovely shiny ankle boots were dry when I changed into them in my office. Today bet all though. I had to attend a funeral of an old family friend this morning, down wee back roads, which have seen many a John Deere but never a Gritter. The tiny road up to the church was treacherous ( really treacherous.....not like they use the word on traffic watch). As I sat in Fat Freddies warm car in the car park, after quite a hair raising journey, I was in a lovely pair of grey and pink pinstripe trousers with a soft pink sweater ( vest underneath!) and a scrumptious grey fur coat. On my not so dainty feet were my hiking boots. I had the lovely little ankle boots in the car with me ,but as I watched women (of hip breaking age) arrive in 5 inch heeled boots !!!!! and skate across the car park ,clinging onto their cromby clad husbands in leather soled shoes, also skating, I though feck this and wore the hiking boots into the church. I did not care at all, unlike the 14 year old who cringed the day her mother made her wear wellies onto the school bus ( in 6 inches of snow). The reason I don't care is that, now I have finally hit 40, I am not really that bothered what others think....nothing short of a miracle ! Churches and restaurants used to petrify me as a teenager as I was super self conscious.....( being fat did not help!)Now, aged 40 and happily plump, I am happy to hike into either and stumble out of the latter.