When I partied through my big birthday year
2018 FASHION EXPERT WENDY RIGG
In 2018, I turned 60, and, oh boy, did I pack a lot into that year.
I dyed my hair lilac and had it cut by the hairdresser who styled the Duchess of Cambridge’s hair for the royal wedding, was given a bicycle by my sister as a b’day pressie, had Golden Circle tickets see The Rolling Stones at Twickenham and “whoo
whoo’d” along to Mick with fellow 1970’s fan and friend Anne, in the Golden Circle beside Bobby Gillespie and Mariella Frostrup ( could I name drop any more?).
I went on a family holiday with my lovely daughter Caitlin, and granddaughters Layla and Taiga, to Elie in Fife, where we hired a house on the beach, and spent happy days making sandcastles, rock pooling, and swimming in the sea. We visited St Andrews and had celebratory ice creams at our favourite Janetta’s (any excuse for a double cone with choc flake).
I treated myself to a trip to Sri Lanka, where I met my friend Susan who had been travelling the world.
The famous Colombo to Ella train journey was spectacular.
It would have been rude not to pack in a cheeky weekend to Berlin to see Nick Cave in concert at the atmospheric Waldebuhne, an amphitheatre in a forest. It was a city I’d never visited before. I loved it – it was so cosmopolitan, arty and bohemian. We did a Bowie guided walking tour, and visited all the Thin White Duke’s haunts in the city.
In September I partied in Ibiza with my best gal pals, and danced til dawn at the legendary Pike’s (still got it!). It was a busy month and I carried on partying by singing along to Paloma Faith and Squeeze at On Blackheath Festival and dancing myself dizzy at Craig Charles’ soul and funk disco with London friends.
The big birthday year ended with a visit to my family in St Andrews with stormy walks along the pier, a lovely Christmas celebration, and a night or two out in Glasgow toon with my pal Fiona (we both started our careers at Jackie and have been friends ever since). Oh what a year it was, with lots of firsts for me. It was a blast and I enjoyed every minute. After all, you’re only 60 years young once.