There's a thread on Mumsnet at the moment in which the OP addresses the situation of a neighbour ( in her 60's) was constantly addressed as darling or Bless and Aw bless by nursing staff in hospital and didn't like it. I find Aw Bless, so irritating and patronizing and so many people are using it lately. I'm not a toddler or a pet. I'm not keen on love or darling but can grin and bear it. Mums netters seem to think it's unreasonable not to like these 'endearments' . I wonder if it's because they are young and will change there minds when they are older. What do Grans think?