When we were young and beautiful

He was joking Sara !!

No, not me. Never was, never will be...

Maggiemaybe

I had an American penpal, Callistemon. His name was Randy (I kid you not), and of course he asked for a photo. I sent him one of my friend and myself, and still have a copy of it - we're resplendent in our mini-skirts and painted-on bottom lashes, sitting by our coal fire eating what could well be a Vesta curry from soup bowls. Of course I expected a fulsome compliment from him and all he did was ask what my friend's name was. I don't think I wrote to him again after that.

??? I bet he was fat from too many burgers, spotty and uncouth.
He didn't deserve you

Ha ha Alegrias, beauty fades but “smart” doesn’t - er hopefully.

I can't even remember the Italian's name.

But I will never forget the French man (well, he was a boy).
It was a very innocent romance.

Oh gosh, sorry Kate, I’m very pleased to hear it

Greeneyedgirl

Ha ha Alegrias, beauty fades but “smart” doesn’t - er hopefully.

Well given that I forgot to put the oven on tonight when I put the quiche in, I'm not sure ??

I have never thought of myself as beautiful and was never popular at school. I had a crush on one of the Italians for 5 years and he always rejected me. At a reunion a few years ago he wouldn’t leave me alone and kept saying how I had blossomed into a beautiful lady and would I go on a date with him!!! Made my day that did?

I think all young people are lovely, I remember that feeling of going out and feeling really good, I only really came into my own style when I went to college, and I felt comfortable and maybe a bit desirable.
I was certainly no beauty, and the boys I really wanted to fancy me usually didn’t, but plenty more fish in the sea.

I too had a pen pal, an Italian, Fabio Cavazzini, I was only 14, can’t remember why the writing stopped, we met in Venice on a school trip, lovely name though. Men used to tell me I had lovely eyes, well I’ve still got them!

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?

A young man I knew (as a friend) once said to me when I was about 17 "I like you. You're very straight." This was after a conversatiin we'd had about another person He didn't mean it in the sexual way (as in not gay) but meaning I was honest and forthright and didn't play mind games. I have always remembered it, for almost 50 years. It wasn't about my appearance, but I took it as a much greater compliment than anything like that. I've also tried to live up to it.

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 ?

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.

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
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!

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!

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 ?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".