Elton reaches a major milestone

AS HE reaches a milestone birthday today, Sir Elton John reckons getting older is completely different these days. With better diets and medical advances keeping people healthier he insists he’s actually relishing it.

“Seventy sounds so archaic doesn’t it,” says the newly septuagenarian superstar. “When I was growing up, 70 sounded like the end of the world. But things have changed, you’re only as old as you feel.”

With younger husband David Furnish, 54, and their two sons Zachary, six and four-year-old Elijah possibly also helping him to keep young at heart, Sir Elton’s showing no signs of slowing down in his advancing years adding that he still likes a party – especially if it’s his own: “Some people don’t like birthdays, they don’t like celebrating, they don’t want to know about them, and I’ve always enjoyed my birthday.” However, this year he’s sharing the limelight as it is 50 years since he met his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin, 67, earning their first big hit in 1970 with Your Song. Unusually the singer claims he hasn’t had a hand in the planning and doesn’t know any details of the bash: “I just know that it’s a celebration of my 70th and the 50 years of partnership with Bernie and myself. “It’s a great year this year – it’s the 25th anniversary of the Aids foundation, 50 years of Bernie and me, and 70 years of me. “It’s nice to celebrate things. Life is fabulous.’’