50 over 50 Project ~ Chapter Three ~ Maria

WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION? I am retired but spent my last eight years of work as a Medical Secretary at a Primary Care Centre

HOW OLD ARE YOU – AND WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING YOUR AGE? I am 69 years old and the best thing about being my age is being retired !!

WHAT HARDSHIPS HAVE YOU ENDURED THAT YOU FEEL HAVE MADE YOU FEEL STRONGER? I discovered that I had breast cancer in 2018 and had a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy in 2019. As my cancer returned in March this year, I have recently undergone a lumpectomy in my mastectomy scar. I am waiting to recommence chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT? My wonderful twin daughters (now almost 40 years old) are my greatest achievement. Having brought them up as a single parent they have both turned out to be exceptional women

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS? To have no worries

WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION? My mum’s necklace

WHAT’S LEFT ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? Without wanting to sound morbid, I just want to get through the next year of chemo and radiotherapy. However, yesterday’s photo shoot was something I have always wanted to do

WHAT WAS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE? Yesterday’s photo shoot 🙂

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF? I would like to be healthy again but otherwise I’m fine as I am

WHAT IS A TRAIT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? I am very friendly, outgoing and, because I have no filter, people know that I am honest and true

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR? Motorways

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS? I have known all my friends for at least thirty years – some for sixty years. They have always been there for me in good times and bad

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF? Don’t do anything stupid

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO OR FAVOURITE QUOTE? Always go through the door marked “no entry”

AND FINALLY…..HOW DID YOU FEEL AFTER YOUR BOUDOIR SHOOT? Wonderful !!