My partner and I used to joke about the alternative to aging being worse, until his daughter died suddenly and unexpectedly of a massive heart attack at 40. As difficult as it can be, aging is to most of us more a gift than a curse.
My mum used to say that. I think in the last years, she preferred the alternative.
I feel so old when I watch quiz shows like The hit List, and they say about songs in the 1980s and 1970s "I wasn't born then - how can I be expected to know songs from then?"
And then some total classic comes on - like Ace of Spades by Motorhead - and they have no idea. And I despair of the world again.
A sign of ageing in church circles is calling a worship song written in the 1980s "modern". (Yes, Mr Kenrick, we do mean you and your ilk!)
I used to say that any song older than me couldn't be called modern, but I think I'm going to have to tighten that to any song not written this century.
I used to think, as many did, that you start feeling old when the policemen are younger than you, but I've just realised that four of the last five Prime Ministers have been younger than me.
I'm pleased to report I'm still younger than the Pope though ... 🙃
I used to think, as many did, that you start feeling old when the policemen are younger than you, but I've just realised that four of the last five Prime Ministers have been younger than me.
When you hear music described as 'Dad rock' and realise they're not referring to the Stones, Dire Straits etc, but stuff that came out in the Noughties.
I did "Wake me up when September ends" at an open mike recently and introduced it as a recent song. And by comparison with most of my covers it is. It's 21 years old.
Most of my covers are late 60s through to 80s. Some of them are older than me, to be fair.
We went to see Pulp at Finsbury Park last year. Jarvis said that they'd last played there 25 years ago. Thanks for reminding me just how long ago the previous gig of theirs I attended was.
Like when you see the x year anniversary vinyl reissue of a CD you bought first time around ... Grrrr!
We went to see Pulp at Finsbury Park last year. Jarvis said that they'd last played there 25 years ago. Thanks for reminding me just how long ago the previous gig of theirs I attended was.
We were at the same gig all those years ago! I was living in Bermondsey then.
I felt a bit old at the family bbq at the weekend, now being a Great Aunt. I was looking at all the young mums and them enjoying their bubs, it seems like just a flash since that was me!
I did enjoy though, that I remembered to bring a folding chair to the BBQ as my hips do not like sitting on picnic blankets any more. I was the only one to do so, which took me by surprise. Perhaps it's my absolute dislike of being uncomfortable, or perhaps others were happier to stand around all day, than I am. I know Cheery husband paid for having a full day on his feet and spent the next day with his feet mostly up as they were aching!
You know you are old when you decide the upkeep of the house you've lived in and the garden you've lovingly tended for many years is now a burden and beyond you. Mrs RR to husband, "I've found a nice two-bedrom apartment near to the grandchildern, dear". RR , "Praise the lord".
Time to get rid of most of the stuff you've accumulated over the years. Like books, records, and in Mrs RR's case, crockery.
So it goes
Older still when bits of you hurt for no discernible reason. Or there is a reason - it's because you did reckless stuff like walking or standing or carrying things.
Early young -teens
Middle young - twenties
Old young - thirties
Early middle age -forties
Middle middle age -fifties
Old middle age -sixties
Early old - seventies
Middle old - eighties
Old old - nineties
By this reckoning I have a few years of being "middle-aged" to go.
"Early middle age" describes my mood well. It's settling in.
Realising that we were in university 40+years ago, that one of our grandsons godmothers is the daughter of one of those friends, and some of those friends are nearly 70.
When we moved here 35 years ago, the 5 contiguous flats were all elderly couples or widowers, plus one empty with an absentee owner. Now it's two young families, one youngish couple, one family with teenagers and an Airbnb. We're the oldest by decades.
Are any shipmates out there who fondly remember 'Bilko' and have the boxed set? Has any shipmate in that category tried foolishly to show them to the grandchildern?
I loved Bilko and though I haven't seen it in years think I still would, I think its one of those comedies that stands the test of time. I too am older than the pope and older than my dad when he died.
30 years ago I was told that I had type 2 diabetes. The following year I was diagnosed with Angina. Earlier this year my heart specialist discharged me but didn't say that I am cured. I get it helps with his waiting list.
I have other issues but untill February this year I was coping fine. I have now been ill for about 3 months. Age has REALLY caught up with me
After 5 years of avoiding it, my gastroenterologist cornered me into getting a colonoscope. I had one 20 years ago and had polyps removed. Dreaded this one, but I was clean. Then he tells me I probably will not have to do this again.
Should I be elated, or is he trying to tell me something?
There are varying opinions on whether people over the age of 75 ought to have colonoscopies anymore. Generally if you've had one or more before and been "clean" of anything worrying, they're less likely to ask you to do it again than if you've never had one or there's a higher risk of colon cancer than average for some reason (for example, odd findings on previous scopes). They are weighing it against how long you're likely to live (shorter time means less necessary) and how many comorbidities you have (because doing a colonoscopy comes with some risk, and the more fragile you are, the less likely they are to want to risk something like a stroke).
Watching an old episode of Dad’s Army, it occurred to me that Arthur Lowe (Captain Mainwaring) and John Le Mesurier (Sergeant Wilson) were both younger than I am now
Watching an old episode of Dad’s Army, it occurred to me that Arthur Lowe (Captain Mainwaring) and John Le Mesurier (Sergeant Wilson) were both younger than I am now
In fairness, they were younger than most of the cast. When it is Godfrey you really know you are getting on.
Watching an old episode of Dad’s Army, it occurred to me that Arthur Lowe (Captain Mainwaring) and John Le Mesurier (Sergeant Wilson) were both younger than I am now
60 years ago I was taught by Arthur Lowe's stepson.
30 years ago I was told that I had type 2 diabetes. The following year I was diagnosed with Angina. Earlier this year my heart specialist discharged me but didn't say that I am cured. I get it helps with his waiting list.
I have other issues but untill February this year I was coping fine. I have now been ill for about 3 months. Age has REALLY caught up with me
I’m sorry you’ve been ill, and for three months! Praying that things get better.
After 5 years of avoiding it, my gastroenterologist cornered me into getting a colonoscope. I had one 20 years ago and had polyps removed.
I’m marveling at making it to 75 with only two colonoscopies. I’m 64, and I’ve had 6 or 7. (Though 2 were a week apart. A spot where a polyp was removed wasn’t adequately cauterized, leading to internal bleeding, a hospital visit and the need for another colonoscopy to take care of the problem. Good times!)
My most recent one, which was last year, was the first where no polyps were found, so it was the first time I was told I could go 5 years before the next one. Previously, it was never more than 3 years, and perhaps less.
I really don't like having colonoscopies, or innuendos, as they are know in Italy.
as to the thread's topic, I realised I was getting old when Mrs RR found not one, but two, unopened packets of blue pills in the medicine cabinet. 'These may be within their 'use by' date, dear . . . I'm not so sure about you!' she quipped merrily as she tore off the cellophane.
30 years ago I was told that I had type 2 diabetes. The following year I was diagnosed with Angina. Earlier this year my heart specialist discharged me but didn't say that I am cured. I get it helps with his waiting list.
I have other issues but untill February this year I was coping fine. I have now been ill for about 3 months. Age has REALLY caught up with me
I’m sorry you’ve been ill, and for three months! Praying that things get better.
My parents both had older siblings and married late, so I have cousins in their 80s (I’m not quite 60) and I briefly had an uncle by marriage who was born in 1889. He was born more than a century before my current line manager.
I keep getting told at church not to get old, they do not seem to buy it that the alternative is worse.
My father used to say to my brother and I, "I don't recommend old age boys". And one of us would always reply that the alternative is not particularly attractive.
My parents both had older siblings and married late, so I have cousins in their 80s (I’m not quite 60) and I briefly had an uncle by marriage who was born in 1889. He was born more than a century before my current line manager.
Similar to me. I’m 60 and my 86 year old cousin died recently. Her eldest son is older than me.
My parents had only me. I had three sets of aunts and uncles who had no children. I had one living grandmother on my father's side and one living grandfather on my mother's side. Sad, when they all died, I had no family left.
Comments
I don’t think it is. The problem is getting there…
I feel so old when I watch quiz shows like The hit List, and they say about songs in the 1980s and 1970s "I wasn't born then - how can I be expected to know songs from then?"
And then some total classic comes on - like Ace of Spades by Motorhead - and they have no idea. And I despair of the world again.
I used to say that any song older than me couldn't be called modern, but I think I'm going to have to tighten that to any song not written this century.
I'm pleased to report I'm still younger than the Pope though ... 🙃
And a lot less wise than you!!
We went to see Pulp at Finsbury Park last year. Jarvis said that they'd last played there 25 years ago. Thanks for reminding me just how long ago the previous gig of theirs I attended was.
Like when you see the x year anniversary vinyl reissue of a CD you bought first time around ... Grrrr!
I did enjoy though, that I remembered to bring a folding chair to the BBQ as my hips do not like sitting on picnic blankets any more. I was the only one to do so, which took me by surprise. Perhaps it's my absolute dislike of being uncomfortable, or perhaps others were happier to stand around all day, than I am. I know Cheery husband paid for having a full day on his feet and spent the next day with his feet mostly up as they were aching!
Time to get rid of most of the stuff you've accumulated over the years. Like books, records, and in Mrs RR's case, crockery.
So it goes
"Early middle age" describes my mood well. It's settling in.
Our diocesan bishop is retiring next year. I strongly suspect that his replacement will be younger than me.
Then, over time, I realised that the parents were more like the age of our children.
Now, I realise that they are far younger than that, mostly. That they could be our grandchildren........
Proof?
I'm enjoying the People's Friend magazine and trying the recipes!
I'm pretty sure it had multiple reruns, well into the 00s.
I have other issues but untill February this year I was coping fine. I have now been ill for about 3 months. Age has REALLY caught up with me
Should I be elated, or is he trying to tell me something?
Same here. And I enjoyed The Men from the Ministry, among other shows.
In fairness, they were younger than most of the cast. When it is Godfrey you really know you are getting on.
Mind you, my father was born in 1910.
60 years ago I was taught by Arthur Lowe's stepson.
I’m marveling at making it to 75 with only two colonoscopies. I’m 64, and I’ve had 6 or 7. (Though 2 were a week apart. A spot where a polyp was removed wasn’t adequately cauterized, leading to internal bleeding, a hospital visit and the need for another colonoscopy to take care of the problem. Good times!)
My most recent one, which was last year, was the first where no polyps were found, so it was the first time I was told I could go 5 years before the next one. Previously, it was never more than 3 years, and perhaps less.
as to the thread's topic, I realised I was getting old when Mrs RR found not one, but two, unopened packets of blue pills in the medicine cabinet. 'These may be within their 'use by' date, dear . . . I'm not so sure about you!' she quipped merrily as she tore off the cellophane.
None of my grandparents were alive then (the eldest were born in 1926).
My father was nearly 44 when I was born (blame Herr Hitler).
My father used to say to my brother and I, "I don't recommend old age boys". And one of us would always reply that the alternative is not particularly attractive.
Similar to me. I’m 60 and my 86 year old cousin died recently. Her eldest son is older than me.