Gransnet forums

Competitions

Win a luxury cabin break for four

(489 Posts)
CariGransnet (GNHQ) Fri 14-Feb-14 16:51:26

How do you feel about getting older? Whether it's a pet peeve or, equally, something you like, let us know (in no more than two sentences) and you could appear in a brand new novel.

Pan Macmillan publishers want to get a snapshot of real women’s feelings about ageing. A selection of these will be included in the new book The Time of our Lives by Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller Maeve Haran.

You might remember Maeve as the author of 90’s smash hit Having It All, a novel that sparked huge debate about whether women could work and have a family, and much more besides. As well as being a brilliant read, her new book is about four friends in their early sixties, and the new issues they face, twenty years older than the protagonists of Having it All.

Everyone who posts a comment will be entered into a draw to win one of 20 exclusive early reading copies of The Time of Their Lives, and everyone whose comments are used will be entered into a draw to win a luxury forest cabin break for four people – details HERE.

We also have an exclusive extract from the book which you can read here.

janeyf Sat 15-Feb-14 09:05:23

I don't feel as bad about getting older as I thought I would. Admittedly getting up early during the working week seems harder and my circulation is not so efficient to cope with the winter weather, plus my looks are not so good but fortunately my maturing outlook makes me care a lot less!

Icolly1 Sat 15-Feb-14 09:00:00

I takes the positives in every decade I reach. Its only my exterior that's changed and working in a hospice makes me grateful for each new decade I reach. I enjoy life and keep working on my bucket list!

grandee2 Sat 15-Feb-14 08:56:41

I have mixed feelings about getting older; firstly I feel so much happier and confident in who I am and less worried about what others think; I like the aging process and not having to keep up with the latest things unless I want to. I am enjoying retirement and having time to spend with my grandchildren. However unexpected things ache, I find myself only doing one thing at a time and I sit down a lot in between!

natty1619 Sat 15-Feb-14 08:18:39

I know there is nothing I can do about getting older and am usually ok with the fact but some days I find myself feeling a bit jealous of the younger women I see. I miss my youthful wrinkle free skin and would love to get rid of the bags under my eyes.

janie123 Sat 15-Feb-14 07:50:37

The best thing about getting older is being a grandmother! I didn't think that I could love my two grandchildren as much as I do, I love them as much as if I had given birth to them!! They are wonderful and although it is tiring looking after them at time as they the eldest one is only three years old and his sister is eighteen months younger, I love it. My daughter often rings me, and I answer the phone and my little grandson shouts "hello grandma" and starts chatting away. Being a grandmother is the best thing about getting older!!

alabaster Sat 15-Feb-14 07:08:06

Knowing there are fewer days left than I have lived makes me appreciate little things so much more - the beauty of a sunrise, the delicacy of a flower, the splendour of a winter storm and, most of all, the love of those around me.

hiddenmichelle Sat 15-Feb-14 07:00:45

I really don't mind - if anything getting older makes me enjoy life more - I always want to try new things before its too late!

besottedgran Sat 15-Feb-14 00:02:02

Getting older brings freedom from a formal working life - allowing more time to spend with grandchildren making memories for them and for us. Such joy.

Ana Fri 14-Feb-14 23:14:51

Of course you could, POGS grin

POGS Fri 14-Feb-14 23:12:50

Ant way couldn't I just take out the full stops and make it one sentence. grin

POGS Fri 14-Feb-14 23:10:43

Ana

No, I just didn't see the 'remit'.

Ana Fri 14-Feb-14 23:05:16

They're not 'petty rules' if they're in the remit, Aka. Perhaps some posters just want to express their views without actually being eligible for the competition, which is fair enough.

Aka Fri 14-Feb-14 23:03:03

But getting old means we don't have to abide by petty rules and conventions unless we choose to.

Ana Fri 14-Feb-14 22:56:09

"In no more than two sentences"!!! (sigh, that's my last word on the matter).

POGS Fri 14-Feb-14 22:47:04

I don't mind getting older because I enjoyed myself so much and now I am happy enough to take life a little more steadily.

Once I was looked after, now I am the one looking after others. Once I was a taxi, now I am being taxied. Once I was young, pretty and healthy, now I take pleasure in watching the younger generation feeling the joy of youth.

Once I am unable to enjoy what time I have left I hope with all my heart somebody will be kind to me.

Aka Fri 14-Feb-14 22:42:21

I don't worry much about getting old. In some ways it's very liberating. I don't have to always try so hard any more, I feel I've earned the right just to be who I want to be, wear what I'm happy wearing and just chill.

I'm aware though that, as someone in their late 60s, I'm still in the fit and able zone, but at some time in the future (5? 10? 15? years) getting old will mean getting frailer, stiffness and some measure of disability. I'm choosing not to dwell on that just yet.

[head in sand emoticon]

durhamjen Fri 14-Feb-14 22:30:11

I've spent a lot of years being a carer. Now I'm old and ill enough to need a carer myself, I understand how my husband felt; shame he's not here to tell.

Flowerofthewest Fri 14-Feb-14 21:52:45

I love getting older, more confidence, more time. I love getting older as my total of grandchildren keeps on growing, like Topsy. I love getting older to still enjoy intimate moments with my gorgeous husband who I nearly lost 18 months ago.

whenim64 Fri 14-Feb-14 21:48:44

I'm nowhere near as old as my age if you start at the top of my head, where I am 25. I get older the further near the ground you get, ending with my 65 year old feet! grin

LizG Fri 14-Feb-14 21:39:40

I feel 80, family still see me as 50 but birth certificate suggests 64. Need some fun!

Grannyknot Fri 14-Feb-14 21:33:33

Getting older is a bit daunting; I find that I move differently, I'm not as agile as I used to be and then I think, "Oh, so that's what being 65 is like". And then I wonder how it feels to be 70!

grannyisland Fri 14-Feb-14 20:14:19

I love being old enough to be retired and choose what I do every day whether it be sitting lazily reading, some creative 'play' or even just a little 'work'.
My only wish is that I had a little more energy to pursue all the opportunities.

Brendawymms Fri 14-Feb-14 20:02:56

Love yourself first whatever your age. Love others who find your life interesting.

Soutra Fri 14-Feb-14 20:00:44

Age is only a number isn't it? Wisdom, experience and knowing that life is a precious gift- these to me are the fruits of a road well-travelled.

shysal Fri 14-Feb-14 19:57:14

I'm too young to be this old!