Category: For fun

Surely no description needed

2025 – STILL HERE

I started this blog 12 years ago just after I left full time employment but have neglected it for several years – largely because I have been very busy running my own business as a funeral celebrant.

I’ve decided to revisit – and rename – the blog in 2025 as I am considerably older and have to accept that I am no longer a fit young 65 year old 😉 but a rather creaky 77 year old.  Hopefully my mental faculties are still sharp (at least no-one has told me otherwise yet!)

So why have I made this decision?  Largely because I constantly find things that people say or don’t say amusing and/or annoying and want to share them. Share with who -sorry, whom – you may ask?  Perhaps with others of a similar vintage who can relate to these musings, or perhaps a whole new group of younger folk who have never thought about how us ancient ones actually used to be young and enthusiastic like them…

Let’s get the ball rolling by asking anyone reading this who is under 60 – when did you last compliment an older (60+) person on their appearance?

And to those over 60 – when did anyone (other than a spouse/partner) compliment you on your appearance and notice if you’ve changed your hairstyle?

My guess in both cases is ‘I can’t remember’.  It seems that as we get older we become less and less visible. I still put on makeup every day, go to the hairdressers regularly and often change the style, keep up to date with fashion trends and try to buy ‘age appropriate’ (whatever that is!) versions of these – but I honestly can’t remember anyone ever commenting on how I look.

Some of you might think this is very shallow of me, and I realise that this mainly applies to us women – somehow men don’t seem to be as invisible…

I do all this so that I feel good about me, not for external gratification, but when you hear all those around you being complimented on a new outfit, new hairstyle etc. and nobody includes you, it can be quite depressing.

To me it implies that you are no longer visible. Your role in the world has diminished – and I’m not ready to be put on the scrap heap yet! I still want to contribute to the world around me. I may not have the energy of a 20 year old anymore, but my brain still functions – and I want to keep it working.  I still have new ideas of things to do, I still want to work – I still want to contribute to my community. And as a further incentive, I need to earn an income to pay my bills as my pension just doesn’t cover it!

So, come on all us ‘seniors’ ( I actually HATE that word ) – it’s a new year so let’s all resolve to stay positive and BE SEEN. Are you with me?

What one skill would you choose for a day?

piano

Listening to the radio yesterday I heard DJ Fearne Cotton say she wished she could sing like Jessie J for a day, just to see what it is like, and that set me thinking.

If I could choose one skill, what would it be?  To sing like Jessie J?  To play tennis like Serena Williams?  To drive a Formula One car like a champion? To cook like Raymond Blanc?  To fly a plane?   One can argue that we can all learn these skills, but most of them take time, money – not to mention a degree of talent or at least aptitude!  I would like a ‘cheat’ day where I woke able to do something as an expert, not a novice, with no effort on my part!

My chosen skill would be to play the piano.  Well actually a bit more than that… to be able to play Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 as well as any concert pianist and to be able to play jazz improvisations equally well.  Not much to ask really!

As I child I didn’t have piano lessons and it wasn’t until my 40s that I decided to try and teach myself.  I was able to use a friend’s piano (although he refused – wisely – to teach me), and spent many Saturday mornings practising the William Tell Overture and sundry other ‘simple’ pieces.  If my friend was in the house while I practised I would occasionally hear a distant shout of ‘Count!!” as he endured my wimpish efforts.  I am not naturally a patient person, and I used to get frustrated that I couldn’t just PLAY!  Which is why it would be such a treat to have a day when my fingers would automatically and beautifully play wonderful piano music.  Needless to say I gave up and can’t play at all.

If anyone else reads this blog, I’d be really interested to know what your ‘secret’ skill wish would be.