Sam,
 
The original phrase in Dutch/Flemish is even stranger than that - make your breast wet, which is vernacular for you'd better get ready. Must be a reference to swimming: dip your hands in the water, and splash some over your body before dipping in.
 
I'm sure Paul enjoyed this little thread hijacking - my way of wishing him a happy birthday.

Happy birthday Paul !
A milestone year ? Plus hitting 2000 posts ?
50 ain't so bad..ok, it doesn't compare to 20.
May I suggest 1 beverage for each year achieved to start the festivities off.
 
Congrats
Gary

Paul, van harte gefeliciteerd! Have a nice evening, it looks like the weather will be fine...
 
Wilfred

Paul, happy burpday (well, after the cans of lager, anyway).  My boss turned 50 last Friday.
Yo, Bill togo, you turned 50 two months ago, huh?  I hit 50 on April 3.  I guess that must be pretty close to your birthdate.
Rich

Hi Paul ,  
 
Happy Birthday to you Brother Paul ! Excellent anniversaire et gelukkig geboerdsdag !  
 
ALAIN

Paul,
 
ook van mij: hartelijk gefeliciteerd!
Heb een moie avond en geef mijn groetjes
ook aan Edwin.....
 
Oliver (Spyderman)

I had a birthday this year too
 
David T

Paul,
 
Happy 50th Sir, although you cannot catch up...
 
Let the spirits flow!
 
CHEERS

my birthday is April 2 , 49 this year
 
 
 
Happy B-Day brother Paul
 
David T (TLO)

I just passed 51 last weekend.  It hurts less with time(LOL).  Enjoy your day, Paul.  There's life on the other side!!!
 
Bill

To quote Koen -my former bass teacher who turned 53:
if this is midlife crisis they all talk about ...for me it may have been started 20 years ago and could last even more years from now!
 
PTOBO

Paul,
 
To echo the sentiments of the others, Happy 5oth, from this side of the Pond!  
 
Jonathan

Mine was April 9th.  Sounds like we have a number of 1955ers and Aries around here.  Alembic attracts the geat ones!
 
Bill, tgo

I won't publish the date, but I too was 50 in early April of this year (it was pretty uneventful).
 
Much like the stats on the number of postings, I think an age distribution curve would be even more interesting, though of course there is no convenient way to collect that.
 
I  had a birthday this year too - good one, and sorry we missed you, David :-)
 
Paul - I'm sure the party must have been great, too bad the rest of us couldn't have been there. Maybe you should invite 60 for 60?

I feel great at 50 (all of us truly cool dudes were born in 1955) and hope you have a wonderful birthday and feel the same way.  It's funny that I don't feel old (most days) but it does feel strange to remember things from the 60s and hear myself start to say, well I remember in the ..
 
J o e y