I began training in 1982, and retired from surgery after 33 years of Specialist practice, at the end of 2020. During this period, Plastic Surgery developed and expanded rapidly, and it was an exciting time to be part of it. As a valedictory to the specialty, and to colleagues, I will present some personal aspects of my career, along with some practical insights and comments on our profession. I hope there may be one or two take-home messages for everyone.