Today was my 70th birthday and I admit waking up remembering what day it was and then thinking that being 70 was a new experience and wasn't I supposed to feel old? I didn't I I felt the same, despite my stroke back in May. My daughter was visiting with her hubby and I had arranged three roast beef dinners, 'Denis dinners', which those who have visited me in Dorchester for things like a Gabyfest will have experienced and named from the owner of the cafe where we ate.

I went there feeling good as I have been communicating about the renewal or my driving licence, which we have to do here at 70 and I rather foolishly told them of my stroke. I was worried about my insurance cover but when I had explained to my insurers, as soon as I told them the hospital had cleared me to drive, they were quite happy to continue my cover.

I had surrendered my old licence and officially it ended last night at midnight but because there was a backlog of 80,000 I wasn't expecting anything for sometime and what with postal strikes and backlog with Royal Mail, I hoped I might receive it in the New Year. It is assumed that you can carry on driving unless a doctor or DVLA( Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority) tell you otherwise, I just hoped if the police stopped me they would accept my story.

However, amongst my cards were two pieces from DVLA, one telling me that I met the medical criteria to drive and the other containing my new licence. So the best birthday card I have ever received was one from DVLA in Swansea and My daughter, my son-in-law had a lovely day and a good meal. Apart from my fatigue on exercising from the stroke, I really don't feel old and I wonder is 70 the new 40? or am deluding myself again?