At the risk of being accused of boasting

There's only one of those I'm jealous of, KatyK. I did actually see the Beatles when they came to Hull, but you couldn't hear them.

It was wonderful. I know many people have done the other two, but if you knew the way I was dragged up, they are miraculous to me! I wonder what things other people have done, that they never thought they would?

Lived to this age without somebody murdering me!

Galen there is still time if you continue with your present work!

Too true! Some have threatened it already!

Much kisses to you KATY !

Thank you Nonu - you too

Katy that's lovely. I'm glad for you that you've had such good experiences in your life. Perhaps they help balance out the bad ones.

What a lovely thing to read Katy thank you so much for sharing. I am a little bit envious not having done any of them (the nearest I got to Venice was breaking my nose in a fall on the day we arrived) but I think you deserved to have the pleasure of all three xx

Wonderful, Katy.

When we went to Venice our gondolier offered to take us to the places tourists didn't see. There followed a romantic meander past the rear entrances of derelict factories, oodles of graffiti and litter, and a smattering of dead pigeons on window sills.

Katy how lovely.

You are reminding me of a Crosby, Stills, Nash song "Have you ever ridden horses in a rainstorm, or led a lion through a busy street bazaar?"

Fantastical experiences.

I saw the Beatles when they came to Birmingham in the 1960s. They had bouncers walking up and down the aisles with batons threatening us if we got out of our seats. The screaming was so loud I didn't know which songs they were singing - fab night.

You were lucky sitting on the stage KatyK.

We lived through a great era in music during the 1960s - I still dance around the house to the music of the time.

I was recruited to be a 'person' on a programme called Identity hosted by Donny Osmond and standing next to Tessa Sanderson, was eliminated early on and never actually saw me on TV but my son did! A weird experience.

Gosh. You are all so lovely. I added to the thread '3 things I have never done' and one or two people said maybe we should have a '3 things I have done' but one or two considered it may seem boasting. Come on, everyone, what have you done that you never thought you would. It was a competition win, sitting next to the Beatles. I have a photo of me (and about 20 other people) and them which I have had blown up and put up in my hall. Attention seeking or what?

How can that be boasting? You are not describing anything that you have achieved or owned, just outlined three happy experiences. Nothing like happy memories is there?

for you all

Katy that is not boasting at all and it's good to hear that you still hold those memories dear.
I consider myself fortunate in that my work took me to all manner of places which I would never have gone if travelling alone and paying for the privelidge but one of my lasting memories is finding a petrified forest deep in the Libyan desert and bringing some of the petrified wood home, which I still have on my hearth. Probably a very unglamourous activity but I was in awe of the remains of a forest millions of years old and of the stone age. As a contrast a few hundred miles away on the coast I came accross Leptis Magna probably the finest Roman Ruins I have yet to come accross.
I guess memories cost nothing so whoever coined the phrase 'the best things in life are free' was a very wise person indeed.
As silly as it may sound another lasting memory is a 'haircut' in Abu Dhabi, in the days long before the building started. It was a wonderful, exhillarating and uplifting experience and only cost a couple of dirhams. Needless to say it wasn't just a haircur but a full head, face, neck massage and god knows what else with scented towells etc. Never had anything like it since, not even there.

I saw the Beatles in Wolverhampton in (I think) 1963 when they were the supporting group for Chris Montez and Tommy Roe. They were so popular that the audience wouldn't listen to Chris Montez, they kept stamping their feet and shouting 'we want the Beatles!'. I regret not going to get their autographs, but had to catch the coach home.

ps How I would like to have seen a petrified forest. What an experience!

I bought a Chris Montez record Rosequartz and I can hear it in the back of my mind now. I think it went 'come on everybody let's dance......'

I think Dusty Springfield was support act with the Beatles, she had an enormous back combed hair style and a 'ton' of mascara - happy days.

Such lovely memories for us all. Rosequartz - I saw them about 5 times in the '60s. On one occasion I had a similar experience to your Chris Montez one. With me it was Mary Wells. Poor lady - in the end she said 'OK I'm going, I'll leave you to your Beatles'.

Hey KatyK - what a very British/English approach to such positive memories, to apologise for 'boasting'. So not! Great memories come from special experiences - and keep us going on the grey days

I've always hated boasting and have never thought I have anything to boast about, so if I tell someone that I've done something nice I almost have to apologise for it! Strange but true.

I went to Venice with my 3 DDs for my 50th - a week long hen party! We did the obligatory gondola ride, but the shine was somewhat tarnished and the historical ambience marred by the gondolier getting out his mobile and chatting to his wife to tell her what time she could expect him home for tea!

Three things I have done of which I am most proud (and feel privileged to have experienced):

- conducting a choir of 250 people in a Three Choirs concert (3 times!!! - and another opportunity to do so next year - how lucky is that!).
- singing in Birmingham Symphony Hall in a gospel concert - wonderful fun!!
- seeing one of my DGC born - unforgettable!

The first two stem from the fact that an inspirational teacher in my (very basic and overcrowded) state primary school noticed that I had a voice and encouraged me every step of the way - without her these exciting things would never have happened. Thank you Miss Mathias.