In my quest to complete 70 things in my seventh decade, I’ve recently added four more experiences to the list: cruising a canal on a houseboat, attending my graduation ceremony, volunteering for a dementia research trial and signing up for ATHX. The last one, admittedly, depends on how well I recover from my recent health challenges.

People often assume that getting older means life gradually slows down and becomes smaller. My experience has been quite the opposite.

A gentle cruise along a canal. Graduating with an MA. Volunteering for dementia research. Signing up for an ATHX competition.

Four very different experiences, all driven by the same belief: life is richer when we remain curious enough to keep saying yes.

Cruising Along a Canal

A friend of many years lives on a houseboat in Wiltshire, moored in a marina on the Kennet and Avon Canal. A few weeks ago I travelled down to visit her and enjoy a mini adventure. It certainly qualified as one for me. I’d never cruised on a houseboat, let alone steered one.

I was also slightly apprehensive about walking along the gunnel to grab the mooring lines before stepping onto the towpath to secure the boat. My thyroid problems have affected my balance and, although I’m a strong swimmer, I wasn’t keen to test that ability in a canal.

We set off on a glorious Friday morning. The first thing I learnt about canal life is that everything happens at a wonderfully unhurried pace. It probably took us fifteen minutes just to leave the marina. The plan was to cruise to Allington for lunch before continuing to Honey Street for the night. A distance of 8 miles. 

There were no locks to negotiate, only a couple of swing bridges where my newly acquired gunnel skills were put to the test. The weather was beautiful, the scenery stunning and everyone we met was friendly. Although I wouldn’t have wanted to go into battle with a rather large swan that followed us for a while.

That evening we moored opposite Honeystreet Mill Café, where we planned to have breakfast the following morning. We spent the evening sitting on the deck, watching the world drift by. It was wonderfully peaceful. Helped along by margarita or two.

After breakfast and a wander around the shops at Honeystreet Mill, we turned the boat around. This manoeuvre is an achievement in itself and can only be done in designated turning spots. We then headed back to the marina.

One thing I hadn’t appreciated beforehand was that although houseboats travel slowly, steering one requires just as much concentration as driving a car. Lose focus for a moment and you begin drifting off course.

It was a glorious way to spend a couple of days and a reminder that slowing down can sometimes be an adventure in itself.

Graduating with Distinction 

Just a couple of days after my canal adventure, I travelled to Warwick University for my graduation ceremony.

This time last year I had almost convinced myself that I wouldn’t return to university after taking a temporary withdrawal because of ill health. Yet here I was: putting on my gown, having my official photographs taken and walking into the graduation hall alongside other successful students.

This was my third graduation.

The first was at Keele University, where I received my MA in Industrial Relations, accompanied by my husband, my mother and my daughter, who was only a few weeks old.

The second was at the Barbican, where my husband, my thirteen-year-old daughter and my ten-year-old son watched me receive my Law degree from the Open University.

This time I decided to go on my own.

It gave me the chance to spend a couple of days away, eat in restaurants by myself, and simply enjoy the occasion at my own pace. At the ceremony and subsequent celebration I could go with the flow, chat to whoever I met and savour the moment without worrying about anyone else.

It was a special day and one that I’m immensely proud of – not just because I graduated with distinction, but because there was a time when I genuinely thought it might never happen.

Volunteering for Dementia Research

A few weeks ago I received an email inviting me to join the Dementia Trials Accelerator, which connects volunteers with research organisations working to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dementia.

I’d previously taken part in another research study back in 2020, which is why I received the invitation. Not that I could remember doing so but it had been a difficult time.

I ignored the first email, but when the reminder arrived I found myself thinking, “Why not?”

I’m not especially worried about developing dementia. As far as I know, the people in my family have retained their mental faculties into old age. That said, like everyone else, I occasionally forget a name or can’t remember what I did on a particular day. Without my diary I’d struggle to provide much of an alibi.

The assessment involved a questionnaire, an online cognitive assessment and a face-to-face appointment where a blood sample was taken.

The online memory assessment was fascinating. On most of the tests I scored within the top 10% for people of my age, although my spatial memory was rather more average, sitting around the 50–60th percentile.

At the face to face appointment I had another memory test. One question amused me. I was asked what street the assessment centre was on. That was easy enough because I’d entered it into Google Maps. I was then asked which London borough we were in. I hadn’t the faintest idea. Later I asked my daughter which borough she works in. She didn’t know either, which confirmed that it was a strange question. 

Overall it was a really positive experience. I contributed to research that may one day benefit others and, just as importantly, I was reassured that there were no signs of cognitive impairment. The lifestyle advice they gave to reduce the risk of dementia? Thankfully, I’m already doing most of it.

Signing Up for ATHX

ATHX is a 2½-hour hybrid fitness competition combining strength, endurance and conditioning across a series of challenging event zones. It seems to be the competition everyone is talking about now that HYROX places have become increasingly difficult to secure.

In theory it should suit me better than HYROX because strength plays a much bigger part. Unfortunately, both my strength and endurance have taken a significant hit over the last couple of years following my relapse of Graves’ disease and, more recently, the severe hypothyroidism that developed after radioactive iodine treatment.

I’d love to be able to say that I’ve fully recovered, but recovery isn’t always that straightforward. It may still take months before my body responds fully and my thyroid medication is optimised.

So signing up for ATHX is something of a leap of faith.

It may end in disappointment. Equally, it may become another milestone in my recovery.

Either way, I’ll spend the next six months training as though I’ll be standing on that start line in January 2027.

Because sometimes saying yes to the challenge is every bit as important as crossing the finish line.

On the surface, these four experiences have little in common. One was about slowing down. One celebrated perseverance. One was about contributing to science. One is about pushing my physical limits once again. But each began with two simple words: Why not? Perhaps that’s the real lesson I’m learning as I grow older. Age doesn’t have to make life smaller. If we’re willing to stay curious, keep learning and continue saying yes, it can make life richer than ever.