When we were young and beautiful

In my twenties, as fairly new newlyweds, we were on holiday in Tunisia, when a local man there said to my husband "you have a beautiful wife, you would want many camels for her I guess?" Apparently that was the currency for buying wives, according to our tour rep. My husband declined to part with me, probably because of the logistics of getting camels home on the plane.
And in the more recent past, at a motorcycle meet I went to, man and woman came up to me and asked if the lady could sit on my bike to try it for size, which I was happy to do. A few months later, I bumped onto them again, when the chap told me his lady had not been very confident about going for her riding test, but that I had inspired her to go for it, she had recently passed her test, and was on the look out to get a bike similar to mine. Never thought of myself as inspirational, but felt what was said was complementary.

icanhandthemback I didn't get any compliments at home either so I tended to be mistrustful of any I received from elsewhere. However, such a long time ago, OH and I once went abroad on a Citybreak without DC (hurrah!) and spent a long afternoon in an empty bar chatting to the barman who had lots of stories and was very interesting. He was also lamenting that his wife had gone to visit her parents for 2 weeks. He had no children and was feeling lonely. He had us down as a couple on a dirty weekend and was genuinely shocked to hear that we had been married for 15 years and had x children. He blurted out, 'Well, I can't believe you two have been married all that time, but if you were my wife I would have lots of children too'. It was the best, maybe only, spontaneous compliment I've ever received.

Lucca

They’re good at that Italian men and you don’t become invisible at a certain age either,

I think Italian men just love women, all women, because their mothers adore them and tell them they’re wonderful. It seems to programme them to love women of any age which is rather lovely, don’t you think?

The nicest compliment I received was not from a boyfriend, but from my stepmum. She said however old I was I would always be young at heart. I thought that was lovely, and I like to think I am. I'm 71 now but in my head I'm still 17 and as my DH says often behave like it! Pity I've aged a lot more on the outside than the inside

Lucca someone (an adult), who had never set eyes on me, told his mother he liked my sexy voice.

I was in a pub with my then boyfriend and somehow a conversation with a chap on the next table came round to money. I said “ he’s only going out with me for the money” and this chap (bless him) said to my date “what’s wrong with you, are you blind?” This was many years ago but I still smile now when looking at my old face in the mirror.

One compliment I do remember was from my eldest daughter's business studies teacher - following a particularly stressful day juggling work, family etc. She said "you are such an inspiration to that girl! She tells me all about your achievements and aspires to be just like you". Better than any compliment about how I looked and set me up to face the next day! Did she turn out just like me - Yep - I reckon so and I'd pass the compliment onto her too!

BGB31

Slightly different topic but how do you feel about women giving you compliments, particularly strangers?

I once told a woman on the tube that I though her hair was lovely (it was - gorgeous coppery colour and an amazing style), I also complimented a woman on her coat (in St Ives if that's relevant?).

Both women seemed delighted, thanked me and gave lovely smiles.

It's happened to me once or twice - I remember someone stopped me and asked where I'd got a handbag from for example.

Do you think it's weird? Or nice?

I think it is nice to pay another woman a compliment - if it is sincere.

I have an acquaintance who work hard to stay very slim (nothing wrong with that). I am twice her size. She always makes a point of complimenting me on my 'lovely blue eyes'.

My eyes are OK but I feel like she is doing it insincerely and just trying to find something nice to say. I feel like she is saying internally 'shame you are so overweight'

I was weeding in the garden and practising my vocals for the choir that I am in and a neighbour who is normally very loud and aggressive told me I had an amazing voice.

I remember getting wolf whistled at by builders tottering past in my high heels with my mum, who then shouted at them "that they were not to do it again, that is my daughter".
I was talking to a guy yesterday morning who stopped to look at my dog. He had moved back to the area and we got talking about schools we had attended so our ages were then disclosed. He told me I was a good looking woman for my age, didn't know whether it was a compliment or not cos he added the 'for my age' at the end.

My friends son (aged about 8) said one day I want to marry someone just like you…. he then paused and said but not as old of course…. ?

When I was about 16 I remember the 18-19 yr old son of family friends, who I fancied:-), saying I'd had a "bum bypass as my legs went straight to my arm pits."

I didn't think it was a compliment at the time, it was my friend who pointed out that is was.

He might have been right back then as I was 5' 10" and about a size 8-10. I always thought I was too tall, he clearly saw something I didn't.

Years later I met him at the Care Home where both our Mum's were and we reminisced about being teenagers and how we had both fancied each other but because our families were friends we didn't really know how to deal with it.

Wish I was still 5'10" and size 8-10 :-)

One man told me my freckles were "angels kisses" and then proceeded to propose to me!
Sadly (because he was rather gorgeous) he was rather drunk at the time, was only visiting as a cricketer from a visiting team and I never saw him again (probably wouldn't remember me anyway!)

In the early 1960s when I was in my final term at school I went on a school trip to the theatre with a group of sixth-formers and several teachers. The next day in school one of the teachers came up to me and said "you looked positively ethereal last night". I didn't know what that meant but assumed it was some kind of compliment. I'm sure I blushed. I was a shy and naive 18-year-old. When I told a friend she said "well everyone knows Mrs B has a crush on you".

I was about 55 and standing in the town centre on my phone.
A well dressed older gentleman, holding his grand daughter by the hand, walked over to me to say how beautiful I looked - smiled, and carried on his way.
I was going through a bad patch and it cheered me up immeasurably.

I certainly didn't usually get compliments within the family and always seemed to be considered adversely when it came to my sister with my boyish figure and the way my clothes hung on me. The first time I ever remember feeling pleased was when a much respected great uncle said that if he needed a job done, he'd always choose me because he knew I was trustworthy and reliable. That meant a lot because I wasn't academic and my sister shone in everything she did so I felt that at least I had something going for me. Of course, I realised that my mother would put my sister down too in her comparisons to me so I didn't take them to heart (did she really think we didn't compare notes?) but my Uncle was an "Independent!" Strangely enough, in her dementia addled brain which seems to delight in being as hurtful as she possibly can with the comparisons getting more spiteful as days go by, she didn't realise I was listening to her phone call to her sister yesterday. I heard her say to my aunt that if she needed somebody to trust, she should trust me because I would never let anybody down. In a week that has been full of hurt, it was a ray of sunshine to me.

My husband and I renewed our marriage vows at the Taj Mahal. I wore a sari for our little private ceremony. As I was leaving, an Indian man rushed up and said. 'Madam, you look beautiful'. And I felt it for probably the only time in my life.

When I was young I wore the standard make up, foundation and powder. Shortly after we were married my DH said ‘what have you done to your face, it looks really nice’ I checked in the mirror, my makeup had worn off and my face shiny. I never wore foundation or powder again. Maybe I should now!

Recently in the V & A, a young assistant complemented me on my outfit, I was quite chuffed and no she wasn’t selling me anything.

It has taken me the whole of seventy years to be told by a very dear friend that I am beautiful and gorgeous!
In spite of being married for many years, I never heard these words, indeed many were the exact opposite.
I am enjoying my new found sense of femininity and am truly grateful that it is never too late to become who I truly was meant to be.

In the middle of my divorce, feeling very low and "dumped" , a lovely male colleague took me aside to say " your husband is such a stupid man to leave you". It made me smile again ?

I had my share of wold whistles which made me feel a bit self conscious when I was young, but grateful when I was older! My best friend said once if she wasn’t her and had to be another person she would be me. I was very touched. I think compliments from other women are probably more sincere!

BGB31
I think it’s lovely, a lady shouted across the road to me a few weeks ago that she liked my dress, I was pleased!

BGB31

Slightly different topic but how do you feel about women giving you compliments, particularly strangers?

I once told a woman on the tube that I though her hair was lovely (it was - gorgeous coppery colour and an amazing style), I also complimented a woman on her coat (in St Ives if that's relevant?).

Both women seemed delighted, thanked me and gave lovely smiles.

It's happened to me once or twice - I remember someone stopped me and asked where I'd got a handbag from for example.

Do you think it's weird? Or nice?

I often do it. Seems to go down well.

Two ladies recently admired my dress (Zara,..buffet type thing)
I was happy.

BGB31

Slightly different topic but how do you feel about women giving you compliments, particularly strangers?

I once told a woman on the tube that I though her hair was lovely (it was - gorgeous coppery colour and an amazing style), I also complimented a woman on her coat (in St Ives if that's relevant?).

Both women seemed delighted, thanked me and gave lovely smiles.

It's happened to me once or twice - I remember someone stopped me and asked where I'd got a handbag from for example.

Do you think it's weird? Or nice?

I think it’s nice, BGB41.

My friend was stopped in the street recently by a young woman who told her how well put together her outfit was. She was delighted. I was with her at the time and mine obviously wasn’t. The only female strangers who’ve complimented me were chuggers.

Many moons ago I heard on the grapevine that some of the men I worked with used to call me the body ?
I’m so pleased they can’t see me now I wouldn’t like to think what they would call me ?