My dear strollers I have a slightly embarrassing confession to make… I thought I’d already written this post. I can’t even claim it was sitting in my drafts and I’d just forgotten to publish it, no the daft truth is that I had written it in my head and then never got around to actually typing it. It’s a shame, isn’t it? Of course now I’m not entirely sure what I was originally planning on saying but we’re all here now so let’s make a start and see where we end up.

I believe I was going to start off by talking about what constitutes an exciting purchase in your 40s compared to when you’re in your 20s. Mind you I’m probably not the best person to make this comparison as I’ve never really gone in for frivolous purchases, in fact I’m sure my most exciting purchases have always been boots, jeans and snuggly jumpers. Perhaps I’ve always been middle-aged but now I have more disposable income to buy even more middle-aged products? So I’m not aging, I’m just catching up with myself? Hmm there’s a thought.

Good grief this post seems to be going all over the place, this is why I need to get better at writing my posts as soon as I have the idea rather than leaving it rattling around and we end up with this nonsense. Ok come let’s get back on track so where was I? Oh yes exciting purchases for 40 year olds. So last year my best purchase was a bird feeder. It’s lovely to see the different visitors we get now from the squabbling starlings to the adorably small sparrows and even the occasional robin, they are a delight to watch & provide a welcome break from the screen. So that was last year’s Best Buy but what about this year? Well so far it has been my Wellington Boots.

My previous pair were great, I had bought them for a wedding in the woods so rather than plain black they had jolly stars on them. However I made the mistake of using them as my gardening boots and the brambles did quite a number on them so now they are only suitable for the garden. I’ve been meaning to replace them for ages but always forgetting until I’m out & about looking at a muddy path. Until finally one day an advert pops up while I’m online and I decide enough is enough, I need new wellies – more than that, I need purple wellies.

I think in the past even I would have viewed a pair of wellies as a dull, purely practical, purchase. Perhaps it’s handy to have a pair in case you need to pop to the shops when it’s snowing or something like that. But now I know they are a chance to keep walking even when the weather is against you. Ok that may be over-stating it as I can still go for a walk after a spell of downpours but without wellies I had to plan my route and opt for an urban stroll or at least make use of proper paths rather than risking boggy patches.

Naturally I had to take the new boots out for a test ride, and we were off to a good start as they were comfy even on the pavement, plus the jolly purple colour looked great with my jeggings so I didn’t feel odd wearing the wellies in non-wellington conditions. In previous weeks I would get to the park and have to ignore the woodland area as we’d had a lot of rain so I knew it would be boggy. A visit to the park is always pleasurable so this is no complaint however the woodland area is my favourite as there are more trees than people, which is how I like it.

Now that I was back in wellies I headed for the wood. At first I thought sod’s law would be in play and it would be completely dry, however just a few steps in and I was looking at a decidedly muddy pathway. But I cared not a jot and happily marched on, grinning as my boots squelched and slurped their way in & out of the mud. And now I think I am slowly making my way to a point, for these purchases which initially sound dull & old-fashioned actually help me connect with nature and restore that child-like sense of joy & wonder at the simple things in life. They allow me to escape the stresses of everyday life as a so-called grown-up and provide a means to disconnect from the world if only for a moment. Whether it’s leaving the laptop to see which visitor is squeaking & chirping outside my window or giggling as I enjoy a post-work welly walk.

So my advice to you, is to do as I have always done, ignore the latest trends and buy whatever brings you joy regardless of how dull it may seem to other people.

That’s how I stroll.