I'm suddenly feeling old!!

soontobe my old-fashioned but very good kitchen needs updating - but it could see me out. What to do?

When we updated our kitchen about three years ago, the salesman said, "it'll see you out"! It hasn't. The paint is cracking.

The rest of Faye's list. Yes!

I have learnt a lesson in that regard.
Friends I know are a couple in their early eighties. About 18 months ago, they were wondering whether it was worth the bother of updating their well worn kitchen. And appeared to have decided the answer is no.
But they are still healthy and functioning.
I have decided, that if I get to their age, that the answer is yes, update.

The trouble is, I'm actually beginning to think a bit that way myself...

Faye Things you buy now won't wear out.

My friend's mother always used to say when she had something new:

'This will see me out'

No, not everybody does decline or accept politely. I have witnessed several incidences of blatant rudeness from older folks.

wanders off wondering if I'm allowed to mention this without having my head bitten off???

'va seat'? Oops......

I wholeheartedly agree with Nonnie, I am happy to accept va seat on a bus etc, and equally would offer my seat to someone who I felt needed it more than me.

Very apt!

My younger brother always let's me know I will always be older than him. This week he emailed me this:
Being over 50 has it's advantages
Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
People call at 9pm and say, "did I wake you?"
People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
There's nothing left to learn the hard way.
Things you buy now won't wear out.
You can live without sex (but not without glasses).
You enjoy hearing about other people's operations.
You have a party and the neighbours don't even realise it.
You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks in the room.
You sing along with elevator music.
Your investment in health insurance is beginning to pay off.
Your joints are more reliable meteorologists than the weather bureau.
Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.
Your supply of brain cells is down to a manageable size.
You can't remember who sent you this.

For those annoyed with a nurse asking them to ie pop onto their side as she prepares to clean their backside, ask yourself, which role would you chose in that scenario? And that is only one situation she has to deal with on a day on the ward.

Reading through this thread I was planning to say just what anno has beaten me to say. If someone was brought up to give up their seat to a person they felt needed it more than them we should be glad that such politeness is still happening and make the person offering feel please that they have done so.

Just a point which I am sure you have all heard before - getting old is better than the alternative!

I am with the grateful and I hope gracious acceptors of seats on tubes or help with luggage. Why should it make me feel old? I know my age and agree entirely with whoever it was who said" Getting older is better than the alternative."
If I don't need a seat e.g.getting off at the next stop I smile, say so and thank whoever. What are we trying to prove? I also echo those who say we should encourage good manners on the part of the young and dare I say it, set a better example.

I certainly don't feel patronised or insulted when someone offers me a seat. It's preferable to having to stand up when you're absolutely exhausted while much younger people are seated - especially when on a really crowded carriage.

I think it's a shame when people's kindness and good manners aren't appreciated.

I agree, number. I tend mainly to only go on the park and ride bus these days, but what I do like is that the drivers are always in a good mood, and wait when they see a car going into the carpark, even when they should have left to stick to the timetable.
Haven't met a grumpy park and ride driver in four years. Maybe it's all these happy pensioners with their bus passes.

No problem Ana. I'm not firing on all cylinders at this time anyway!

I love it when someone offers to help, or gives me their seat, politeness and good manners are all too rare nowadays, so why knock it back?

Kate, my last paragraph was not directed at you - I should have said it was in reply to Anya's post, sorry!

But of course!!

Quite understandable, Katek.

And I'm sure we're always polite when declining offers of help which we don't need - we're allowed to air our feelings on here though aren't we?

It's ok Coolgran....no ammo left a this time of night! Not sure if it's super sensitivity or tetchiness-in my case I am just surprised, shocked, taken aback by the unexpected realisation that others perceive me as being different (old!) to the way I perceive myself.

I hope those who feel slighted have at least the good manners to refuse politely. There are too many grumpy, bad mannered old people around as it is.

I don't mind being asked to 'pop' anywhere.... I think staff are trying to be pleasant and friendly. It's a phrase that is likely used all day, every day, regardless of age/gender.

I'm almost afraid to say this..... but could it actually be a sign of getting older that folks sometimes get unnecessarily supersensitive/tetchy and offence gets taken where it is not meant...... as I duck my head under the parapet