Feeling my years

It's getting the tops off child-proof containers, such as bleach, the first time you use them that brings home to me I'm getting on a bit. And I can't reach that spot between my shoulder blades my more if I have an itch

I have a very light stepladder as described by Elegran, which lives behind my spare bedroom door. If I had a suitable space I would have another downstairs. It doesn't have to be a tall one, but tray and hand rail are essential. Gracesmum, I worry about you or DH using a chair, please don't, I know of several people who have fallen in similar circumstances.

grannyactivist I agree with you, I travel regularly for work and although I have a small suitcase on wheels and pack as light as possible, often by the end of 2 days on trains and up and down station staircases and getting on and off trains I just can't face it and I do the 'grey haired lady bending down to gather herself for the ascent' impression and invariably a strapping young (sometimes not so young) man will scoop the suitcase and whizz up the stairs with it .

My stepladder lives behind the kitchen door, where it leans invisibly against the wall. It is very light and has a tray for light bulbs and screwdrivers like anno's, also a handrail that curves up and over at the right height to hang onto while you change the bulb.

DD2 and SIL bought it for me one Christmas when I told them how MIL used to regularly fall down the wrong side of her stepladder when she was spring-cleaning. She would climb up the steps, turn round on the flat top (no handrail) to clean behind her, then try to go down the side with no steps.

No No Ana, that's just asking for trouble

Perhaps I'll just get a bin-day second husband!

Ana you don't actually have to BE old and doddery, just tell them you are and look the part on bin days!
My daughter had help from the local council with her bins because she is physically too small to manage them. (She has a husband to do it now.)

I'll try that when and if I ever get 'old and doddery' Ella. Thanks for that! (Not that I live in Cheshire East...)

Ana, Cheshire East will take the bins out for you if you tell them that you're old and doddery . They did it for my dad, why don't you give your local council a ring.

I have problems going up step ladders these days, also getting them upstairs on the stairlift is difficult, so to my shame, my upstairs windows are in a terrible state, hate to think what the window cleaner thinks!

I worry about this sort of household task but so far I can do step ladders. to lights etc. I also have a small lightweight Aluminium one from Aldi.

I tend to take being able to do these tasks for granted. I pop in and out of our loft with the loft ladder without thinking. I should keep the loft de-cluttered before I get too old.

These are all things to bear in mind if we are thinking of down sizing as we get older but I for one don't like to ever consider the possibility of losing independence in these small things. worrying thoughts.

I often wonder how we're going to manage hefting our wheely-bin up the steps to the main road in future years - it takes me all my energy now, and DH has lung problems so can't help. I do put the last bin-bag in after I've got the thing onto the pavement, but as we have fortnightly collections it's always heavy...

That would still have meant (me) carrying aforementioned ladder up from garage where it would have to live. Am I just being pathetic? (Don't answer )

Stepladder. I got one in Lidl's at a very reasonable price a couple of years ago. It has a little tray on the top so that I don't need to climb up clutching a new light bulb and climb back down with the old one.