So how old do you think I am? (Don’t answer that!)

Baggs I'm sure you are right. I think I remember learning on my Psychology degree that as people age they do not sleep as long, at least at night!

Aaagh, Passport photos! Oh don't remind me Riverwalk ! I have my bus pass one done after going through a heavy rainstorm while having a migraine. When I took it to the Council office for my bus/transport pass, I said it looked as if I were dead! The lady was so embarrassed, but it really does. I've seen several dead bodies.

Tilly at least you know you can never ever look worse, in life or death.

I was waiting to cross the road on a dark Winter afternoon in the rain. The traffic was relentless. Along came our Religious Leader (female), with umbrella, in a hurry. Seeing me she said "Oh I can stop the cars to get across by taking you over (I'm also disabled). I'll be your carer." Whereupon she grabbed my arm and pulled me into the wet road forcing a car to stop suddenly and tugged me almost all the way across at a speed I found difficult, frightening and painful, letting go before she reached the other side to run off to her car way ahead of me.
I realised what it is like to be used.
I stopped going to that Church.

Tilly you are not having much luck with people from church lately.

Who knows what any age should look like?
Someone once said, when told they didn't look 60, "Yes I do because this is what 60 looks like on me."

Tillybelle, Joan Hickson is my favourite Miss Marple too. Great minds etc etc. ?

When I was 62 I was in a cafe with my baby twin grandchildren and a woman asked me if I’d had an easy birth with them. I have to admit I felt flattered. Unfortunately now I look terrible and wrinkled since cancer surgery for an aggressive tumour on my face!

Tamayra, consider yourself very lucky at 76 to have no aches and pains (I wish).I'm 74 and been in constant pain,getting progressively worse as time goes on.As for medication ,don't talk about.The annoying thing is I don't feel my age,don't act my age and don't look my age.Even my doctor,when I had to go to him about my driving license ,said,why are DVLA involved at your age? when I pointed out I was over seventy bla bla bla,he was open mouthed,omg I did'nt realise.

Riverwalk How on earth do those officials recognise the people from the passport photos? I look like one of those Jane Doe photos that they used to take of an unknown corpse. My DGD does not resemble the chubby toddler she was and even my own DSs are unrecognisable to me! They all look like actors in a Zombie movie!!

Maw I actually hate driving and always have, though I am perfectly competent! Still I dread having to give up as I now appear to be the family taxi service. I am now 71. I was clearly born into the wrong class and should have had a chauffeur.

Just be glad you don't need one. Some of us would love to manage without ours
Tillybelle; Include me out of that"some". Mine is my passport to gaining help.
Takes me back to my days in the pram when I found dropping things out of it brought people rushing to help. Same with my stick! Now older, but just as wise (I think.!)

MawBroon
Nothing could be as bad as the Magic Roundabout and the Oracle system. Murderous.

Today, I had my hair chopped from collar length to short (not mannish) and a full head of streaks.
I can honestly say that the lighter colour makes me look years younger.
It's wonderful what a completely new style and colour can do.

SPRIGHTLY is a word I abhor. I had this discussion with my youngest daughter who seemed to think it was ok to be called sprightly. Until I pointed out that it pertains to the active elderly. She laughed and said that's so ageist.
I think if someone said I was quite sprightly for my age I'd clock them . ??

I agree with you * wellington* though my Brownie Six song was
" Here we are the sprightly Sprites, Brave & helpful like the knights"

Ooh PECS I hope you didn't get your poetry badge for that one!

I was in the Fairies (Brownies). "We're the Fairies, good and gay. Helping others every day".

I liked the leprechauns one. "We're the Irish leprechaun. Helping others when forlorn".

Bit off-topic that. Sorry.

Nothing could be as bad as the Magic Roundabout and the Oracle system. Murderous

Been there, done that, never again!
I recognise that familiarity plays a large part of confidence, I know people who find the lane system and roundabouts around Junction 14 intimidating so never go that way if they can help it, but it’s my way home from Waitrose so I have no qualms!
When I think about it though I wonder if the fact that I refuse to dye my (silver) hair sends an “old lady” image to women who still do? An edgy haircut, smart and bold coloured clothes notwithstanding.
Now that’s ageism.

Maw, I am preparing myself for hair colour related ageism as I have decided to stop colouring my hair. I felt that the ubiquitous blonde colour was fooling nobody and I was tired of it. Three months in and I am enjoying the benefits of wearing my silver locks. It is so liberating! No more roots, great condition, cheaper hairdresser bills. So far so good.

Hair colour is a quandry! My flame haired mum never dyed her hair as it faded from dark ginger to strawberry blonde, blonde to silver and it all happened very naturally. My natural colour is dark brown & I have been covering they grey "roots" for about 10 years. I have gone lighter to accommodate changes to skin tone & to keep looking as natural as possible..but cannot face being solid silver! I feel I should be able to!

I know what you mean,PECS. I had a few false starts before I finally gave up colouring as I suppose I didn’t want to accept being grey. I was motivated by friends doing it first and they look good. Also,sad but true, celebs like Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Dench, Glen Close, Helen Mirren who are embracing the silver barnet. The OH doesn’t feel the need to colour his hair so why should I?
PS although he doesn’t say it I sense that the OH doesn’t like my return to nature that much. But, heh, I am free of roots so I don’t care. ?

I have noticed a lot of offers of seats on tube trains lately! I am 73, "still driving," still working, actually, since I am freelance and self-employed. Yes, I am a grandmother, to five children under six, but I don't consider myself old. (Though I'd rather be old than elderly, which I can't stand.

I was out for a half term treat with 2 of my grandaughters during the week.
Paying to enter I was asked, "2 children, 1 adult?" That reminded me I am in receipt of my OA pension.
"Oh, actually I am a Pensioner," I replied, and then had to laugh when the man behind me commented, "yeah, right, stood there with your sisters, trying to pretend you are old!!"