60 for 60 - July 2026

Adventures: Iron Maiden, Groove and Golf, Results Day, Kite Flying and Fish and Chips

July - A Month in a Minute

The heart of summer arrived in July with glorious sunshine, soaring temperatures and the perfect excuse for adventures both big and small.

From the epic spectacle of Iron Maiden at Knebworth, to grooving around the golf course at Iron Pit Woods, and from flying kites on the endless sandy beaches of Skegness to enjoying traditional fish and chips by the sea, to getting my degree results, July was packed with unforgettable experiences.

Most importantly, I spent precious time with my family while ticking off more of my 60 for 60 challenges. Every adventure, no matter how big or small, added another memory to what has already become a very special year.

One rock 'n' roll month. One incredible summer. Memories to last a lifetime.

Adventure # 1 - Iron Maiden at Eddfest, Knebworth

Saturday 11 July

For my 60 for 60, I wanted to attend a new festival I had never done before.

Well, this gig was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the UK's festival scene this summer. Eddfest was a unique festival experience created to celebrate Iron Maiden's 50th anniversary, and it already feels legendary. I was incredibly lucky to attend, as Elliot treated me to a ticket for my birthday.

The day dawned hot and sunny beneath a cloudless blue sky. Elliot drove and we had a good run down the A1, apart from a slight delay while queuing to get into the car park. But eventually, we arrived.

After what felt like a very long walk to the entrance, we claimed our spot and laid out the picnic blanket. Elliot headed to the bar, Reu settled under the umbrella with a battery-operated fan and promptly fell asleep, Kia enjoyed vodka Red Bulls, and I happily sipped lager from a rather cool Iron Maiden souvenir cup. Meanwhile, we listened to Airbourne warming up the crowd.

Elliot and Kia went off in search of merchandise, only to discover queues that were several hours long. They returned empty-handed but brought noodles for Reu, who somehow remained fast asleep in the shade despite the heat.

While they relaxed, I wandered off to explore. I visited the Eddfest Museum, experienced Infinite Dreams and browsed the various attractions around the site. One of the joys of exploring solo is how easily you can navigate huge crowds. You simply wriggle your way through. And I have to say, everyone was incredibly friendly. The atmosphere throughout the festival was absolutely fantastic.

By the time I returned, Kia and Reu had disappeared on an adventure of their own, while Elliot was happily chilling out.

Later, we moved our camp slightly further up the hill to get a better view of the stage. I was particularly excited to see The Hu, the Mongolian folk metal band, and they were every bit as wild and wonderful as I'd imagined. Think Game of Thrones colliding head-on with Lord of the Rings and Mortal Kombat.

Next came The Darkness, who were absolutely brilliant. It was delightfully surreal watching hardened heavy metal fans joyfully dancing along to Justin Hawkins' spectacular falsetto vocals. Completely unexpected and utterly marvellous.

(Should I be mildly concerned that I find Justin Hawkins rather sexy? Asking for a friend.)

What struck me throughout the day was the atmosphere. This huge crowd of rock fans radiated happiness. No trouble. No aggro. No drama. Just fans of all ages enjoying an incredible day together.

As the sun began to set and the evening air cooled, Iron Maiden finally took to the stage, opening with Murders in the Rue Morgue. The familiar opening exploded across the field and the crowd erupted with it.

Bruce Dickinson greeted us with a booming, "Hello Knebworth!", before adding, "Fuck me, anyone would think there's a football match on!" A playful nod to England's match against Norway, but also perhaps an acknowledgement of the enormous crowd stretching as far as the eye could see.

And then the show truly began.

This was far more than a rock concert. It was a spectacular theatrical production. Giant Eddies towered over the band, wielding axes and brandishing sabres while magnificent visual effects transformed the stage throughout the performance.

At one point, I needed a wee and decided to make my way down the right-hand side of the stage. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of the entire day. There was loads of space, fantastic sightlines and a perfect view of both giant screens.

Naturally, I went back and brought the others down with me.

From there, we had the most incredible view and plenty of room to dance, sing and soak up every moment. The crowd completely lost their minds during Run to the Hills. Song after song, this band of seasoned rock legends had tens of thousands of people eating out of the palm of their hands.

Simply amazing.

As the encore began, we started making our way back up the hill and began the long trek towards the car. Thank goodness for What3Words.

At one point, Reu rolled down a grassy bank, much to the amusement of everyone nearby, before announcing:

"Daddy, I think today was the second-best day of my life."

(The first, apparently, being the day he was born.)

Honestly, I was inclined to agree with him.

I've been to many gigs over the years, but this one ranks right up there with the very best, perhaps even the best. I loved every single minute of it.

Elliot, Kia and Reu made this an unforgettable experience and the most wonderful birthday treat.

This rock 'n' roll mumma felt thoroughly spoiled. And yes, I've got the T-shirt too, thanks to Elliot finally finding a mercifully short merchandise queue.

We escaped the car park surprisingly quickly, joined the A1 northbound and were home by about 12.30 am.

Hot. Tired. Sticky. Dusty.

But also buzzing from one of the best days I've ever had.

Just bloody marvellous.

Adventure # 2 – Results Day!

21 July

Five Years. One Dream. Today It Became Reality.

Today, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology, First Class.

Five years ago, during the strange and uncertain days of the Covid lockdowns, I embarked on this journey. Life has changed enormously since then, but throughout every challenge, setback and distraction, I kept moving forward towards my goal.

Achieving a First-Class degree was always my ultimate ambition. It demanded hard work, dedication and perseverance, but on 21 July, all that effort was rewarded.

I've thoroughly enjoyed my studies and learned so much along the way. I've explored both human and animal psychology, gained a deeper understanding of society, and perhaps most importantly, learned a great deal about myself.

There were moments when the finish line felt a long way off, but I never stopped believing that I could do it.

I believed it.

I worked for it.

And I achieved it.

I am incredibly proud of what I've accomplished.

This degree is more than a qualification. It represents five years of commitment, determination and personal growth. It is another ambition fulfilled, another item proudly crossed off my 60 for 60 list, and another reminder that it's never too late to chase a dream.

Now I have the formal graduation ceremony in London later this year to look forward to.

And yes... I will absolutely be throwing my mortar board into the air!

🎓 First-Class Honours in Psychology.

✅ Dream achieved.

✅ 60 for 60 challenge completed.

✅ One very proud graduate.

Adventure # 3 – Groove and Golf

Saturday 25 July

When Crazy Golf Meets Silent Disco -

What a brilliant summer Saturday evening!

This was something completely different and had the added bonus of ticking off two more 60 for 60 experiences in one go: Crazy Golf and a Silent Disco.

Armed with golf clubs and wireless headphones, we danced, laughed, sang and putted our way around all 18 holes, each of us immersed in our own musical world. One minute we were lining up impossible shots, the next we were breaking into spontaneous dance moves to songs nobody else could hear.

It was impossible not to laugh, especially with a healthy dose of competitive Dad energy in the mix. Hun’s triumphant little victory dance after scoring a hole-in-one had us all in stitches. It was impossible not to join in the celebrations.

To top it all off, hun and I finished joint first, which felt pretty good. Proof that Mum and Dad have still got it!

What made the evening truly special, though, wasn't the scorecard. It was spending time together as a family on a warm summer evening, sharing music, laughter and a little friendly competition.

Sometimes the best adventures aren't the biggest or the most spectacular. Sometimes they're simply about being together, trying something new and making memories that will still make you smile years later.

And this one definitely will. ⛳🎶💃

Adventure # 4 – Kite Flying and Fish & Chips at Skegness

Sunday 26 July

A little rain greeted us first thing this morning (yay!), but the clouds soon drifted away as Elliot, Reu and I headed to Skegness to meet Kia, Charlie and Freddie.

Today's mission was simple: fly a kite and eat fish and chips by the seaside.

Now, I know kite flying can be a bit of a challenge, so I did my research and purchased a huge, brightly coloured, frameless octopus kite. There was a bit of setting up, a fair amount of running about, and more than a little encouragement from me.

"Come on, get up there!"

Then the wind caught it.

And the magic happened.

Watching that giant octopus dancing high above the beach brought the biggest smile to my face. It's amazing how something so simple can make you feel completely carefree. Sometimes all it takes is a sea breeze, a colourful kite and the willingness to be just a little bit daft.

To my delight, the kite was a huge success. In fact, it attracted quite an audience. I kept catching dads smiling in my direction with that look that seemed to say, "She's clearly a professional kite flyer." Perhaps there was even a tiny hint of envy as they wrestled with their traditional framed kites while my octopus sailed effortlessly through the sky.

This 60 for 60 challenge has never really been about ticking boxes or making up for lost time. It's about making time for the things that bring me genuine joy and happiness. It's also about reminding myself that growing older doesn't mean growing up.

If anything, it's given me permission to unleash my inner child.

Of course, no day at the seaside is complete without paddling in the sea. It was wonderful watching the boys jump the waves, dig a giant hole in the sand, dodge jellyfish and simply enjoy the carefree magic of childhood.

There was laughter.

There were squeals.

There was that wonderful sense of freedom that only seems to exist at the seaside.

By now, all that kite flying, wave jumping and hole digging had worked up quite an appetite. Which meant it was time to tick off another item from my 60 for 60 wish list:

Eat fish and chips on the beach.

Honestly, fish and chips taste so much better when they're eaten straight from the paper with the sea stretching out before you. We enjoyed a perfect fish and chip picnic on the sand, complete with the occasional crunchy reminder that beach dining comes with complimentary grains of sand.

After another hour or so of playing on the beach and watching the incoming tide slowly reclaim our giant hole, we packed up our things and headed for ice cream, followed by an hour in the arcades.

The children gleefully fed two-pence pieces into the machines while collecting tickets and tokens in pursuit of prizes that probably cost less than the money they'd spent winning them.

But that's all part of the fun.

Soon it was time to head home, although not before one final seaside treat.

Hot, sugary doughnuts. My absolute favourite guilty pleasure.

With the car packed, Reu immediately zonked out and slept the entire journey home.

Tired.

Hot.

Sun-kissed.

Salt-streaked.

Happy.

Another wonderful day, another 60 for 60 adventure completed, and another collection of marvellous memories made with my wonderful family.

A truly fabulous day at the seaside. 🌊🪁🍟

What a month! July delivered rock music, graduation success, silent disco golf, giant octopus kites, fish and chips on the beach, ice cream, doughnuts and plenty of family fun. My 60 for 60 challenge continues to prove that adventure doesn't have to be extraordinary, it simply requires saying "yes" to new experiences and making the most of every opportunity to create lasting memories. ❤️😊