Columnist and journalist, Andrea, 54, lives in Dublin with her beloved dogs. Here, she explains why she celebrates her singleness
At one point in the middle of my 50th birthday party four years ago, I looked around the room and drank in the fact that almost everyone who meant something to me was there. It was quite the eclectic bunch. There was my family, obviously, and friends I had gathered along the way as I rolled through five decades of life. It was a humbling and heartwarming experience, particularly as many people had travelled to be there. When I said I was having a party, some people thought I was mad.
I have toasted them at their engagement parties, and visited practically every part of the country and many European cities for their hen parties. The latter has seen me lose my dignity more times than I care to remember. Being made to wear a tiara and pink tutu while schlepping around pubs in a rainy Westport was a particular low, as was drinking out of straws shaped like male appendages. It’s up there with the male body painting class dreamt up by one particularly sadistic bridesmaid.
When you have children, you’re going to have multiple opportunities to celebrate. You can bring everyone together for baby showers, christenings, communions, confirmations, debs and 21sts, not to mention throwing a bash for their birthdays every year. I have five lovely godchildren ranging from 27 down to eight, so I have put in many hours at parties held at noisy play centres filled with screaming kids. Only joking, it was of course how I would choose to spend my precious Saturday afternoons...
My present neighbours were sitting with my friends from animal rescue, while the girls from the TV panel show Elaine were mingling with former clients from my days spent as a music publicist. Three beloved nun friends, Sisters Mary, Elizabeth and Martina, were chatting to X Factor star Mary Byrne, and were thrilled when she gave them a rendition of It’s A Man’s World. Due to the aforementioned job in music PR, I was able to sweettalk a few very talented pals into entertaining the guests.
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