Instant coffee and tea bags are an abomination.
Apropos Eigon's bow, in my youth I could pull a 45 lb bow and a 90 lb crossbow. Not any more!
10 years ago I bought a bit of very posh hi-fi equipment. The other day I went to lift it ... hmm ... I need help!
Different realisation. I discovered from a friend yesterday that Jethro Tull are still touring and the lead singer/flautist Ian Anderson is still going strong at 78. Still playing the flute standing on one leg! He seems to have put off getting old.
Jethro Tull? Famous for the song “Living in the Past”. A good song for this thread.
I wonder if we have the same friend?
It was my friend’s birthday today and as a great fan and acquaintance, he was shouted lunch by said Ian Anderson.
Afraid not. My friend is female and has been part of the support team on the tour.
Mind you, she’s probably shared lunch with Ian Anderson and others; a dozen of them are travelling around in the same bus.
A few years ago, I was pulling a 70lb bow. I ended up giving up archery because doing that for a couple of hours is exhausting, and I couldn't do it any more.
I'm considering bowing out of archery in a blaze of glory with the arrow talk, and finding someone younger and fitter to pass the equipment on to. I also have a 50lb flat bow that I could only ever draw half way (though I have happy memories of target shooting from the terraced gardens of Berkeley Castle with it), and a modern recurve bow - though that is about 40 years old now!
I am sure glad either my Viking or Norman (yes, I know they are cousins) ancestors would have nothing to fear from the English longbows if they were to have invaded now.
A few years ago, I was pulling a 70lb bow. I ended up giving up archery because doing that for a couple of hours is exhausting, and I couldn't do it any more.
It's some years since I did archery (compound bow) and I remember 60lb being the maximum allowed in NSW, Australia.
Come to the US. We have minimum draw weights, but that is for hunting purposes. There are no maximum draw weight requirements in the US that I know of.
Come to the US. We have minimum draw weights, but that is for hunting purposes. There are no maximum draw weight requirements in the US that I know of.
Come to the US. We have minimum draw weights, but that is for hunting purposes. There are no maximum draw weight requirements in the US that I know of.
For re-enactment battles in the UK, the draw weight has to be between 20 and 30lb, so as not to cause serious injury, and the arrows are tipped with rubber heads. They can still leave a bruise, though, and you learn pretty quickly not to look up when the hail of arrows is incoming.
In preparation for my French group, I asked my son to highlight my strengths and weaknesses. His list of weaknesses included things that older people typically find tricky- opening jars and bottles, changing light bulbs. I was also offended that he criticised my IT skills. Ok, so I haven’t kept up with more recent stuff eg I hate having to pay for parking via an app, but I am as good as the next person at sending texts and emails, online banking, googling, contributing to forums and the like, whereas I know many people my age who refuse to do any of those things.
We didn’t even get as far as my strengths.
I'm still firmly of the opinion that QR codes are a passing fad, so I refuse to learn how to use them.
They should only be used from a trusted source in any case. Otherwise, using one is a blind leap into the unknown, like clicking on a link in a random email.
Far too young
Too young, with lots of promise
Young
After a good life
At a good age
That made me smile, and attempt to put numbers on those criteria. In numbers terms I think I fall into your second category - but without the promise, let alone lots of it.
Mrs RR confides that at her age it's well nigh impossible to find a comfortable brassiere. This I can confirm, as she now has so many that I fear a BEF*
Mrs RR could contemplate going without. I chucked my last worn out bra some years back and do well without( mind you 36C which is not huge but even in mega sweaty Oz summers not a drama).
Alas, Mrs RR (36 DD) needs an 'over the shoulder boulder holder' ... not that I'm complaining of course, but then I get all the benefit and not the bad backs!
Alan Bennet in his diaries confides that for men, in old age, earlobes get larger whilst ... er other bits ... get smaller.
I went to the dentist yesterday and he introduced me to his new assistant as, " This is Miss Image she is our oldest patient." At first I thought he was saying I had been his patient the longest and no that could not be true.
I am just discovering the joys of plus sized shops which carry bras. After years of hoiking straps back up my shoulders I've found a pair with a racer back. If they fit well I will be stocking up! I've also discovered those which are like crop tops, a bit fiddly to put on if damp from the shower, but am not experiencing a lack of support. Glad to have purchased those on sale. Sooo expensive.
Joint episode of feeling old last night. Cheery husband purchased a new electric scooter to ride to work. Last night, after refusing my offer to collect him as he was staying late (an office move is in progress); he had a fall after moving off the shared path to make extra room for a pedestrian - he fell in a hole. He now has a fractured arm and spent from 9.30pm to 3.30am at A&E getting x-rayed and decision re casting or not. We are both shattered not having slept much. I was grateful for little traffic on the road as I was concerned about driving in the wee small hours. Today I am barely functional and having a bed day. I hope husband is napping at lunchtime. We used to be able to run on minimal sleep for a day or so, but no longer ....
@Cheery Gardener . You and husband have had a very tough time. I would expect that you need to take it easy for a while. I hope that you both get some good sleep.
Found out a couple of days ago that I'm going to be a great-uncle in 6 months' time. We knew my niece was a) on birth control and b) prone to being extremely forgetful.
It only a matter of time before the two collided.
Found out a couple of days ago that I'm going to be a great-uncle in 6 months' time. We knew my niece was a) on birth control and b) prone to being extremely forgetful.
It only a matter of time before the two collided.
Yep, I know that one. Every time we "forgot" we had another one coming. Mrs. Gramps and I did not use the pill, though.
Really felt old yesterday, after a day out with the two youngest grandsons. Nothing particularly energetic, just on my feet (and walking poles) in the sun for 5hours, but I was wiped out.
Thanks all for your kind words about Cheery husband's mishap. He seems OK, though now he has a headcold which he's passed on to the rest of us. Bler. He is masking and soldiering on at work as he now has a new employer, supervisor and team and doesn't want to miss out on the first few days in a new workplace. Roll on retirement!!!
Yesterday I had planned to drive to the next town for a special Evensong but when the time came I was just too tired and felt unsafe to drive. If it had been local I would have gone. If I had paid for a ticket, would I have gone? I don’t know, but it is the first time I have cried off something I had really seriously planned to do, as opposed to something I might quite like to do, because of tiredness. I just don’t have the energy levels any more.
The family (wife, daughters and grandchildern) are urging me to update my ancient mobile phone, with which I have enough trouble as it is. There is, apparently a suitable one on the back of this week's 'Radio Times'. And only £267! Ugh!! The poem is bad but apposite and heartfelt:
With apologies to Elizabeth Barret Browning
How do I call you? Let me count the ways:
The icons are there, in serried arrays,
but often they vanish, sometimes for days.
Smartphone and texting, Facebook and X
and whatever they think is gonna come next.
There all of them there on my tiny device.
But just to talking to you would be very nice.
I'm in need of an update, I've often been told,
As my battery's flat and my apps are too old.
And arthritic fingers don't work when they're cold.
So what am I doing, this aged has-been,
Poking about dimly, reloading the screen?
I lose my emojis, say something obscene.
I wish it had valves, with their nice warming glow,
I much preferred buttons, on a dial, in a row --
So how do I call you? Does only God only know?
That's really good, RR - well-written! My Dad (84) has lost the battle to operate a smart phone, though he still has one and fidgets with it from time to time . I (55) don't have a smart phone at all. It is possible to wobble on with text and voice only, but there are occasional things that make it a hassle. No phone at all would sod me up for the '2 factor authentication' thing, where the bank texts me a one-time-code when I bank online using a computer. I have never spent more than 20 quid on a 2nd hand Nokia-type phone. The demise of '2g' in the next few years will push me on a bit, but I don't know where yet. I'm not sure that's helpful for you, but perhaps it might make you feel less like 'you have to do it'.
There are (supposed to be) special phones made especially for those of us who are in the case you describe and would much prefer a phone that is nothing but a phone--or close to that. They tend to come with bigger text and numbers, too. You have to seek out "phones for elderly people" or "phones for disabilities", that sort of thing (probably best described as "adaptive technology," but nobody is going to advertise that way.)
But you need to see and test drive it before you buy, as a lot of these things (in my experience) have just as many complications as the ordinary phones--it's as if they started out with a good idea, but then at the last minute, someone developed doubt, and said "But surely they'll complain if we don't add x" (and y, and z...) And as a result, the only thing that is truly simple is the appearance. So be careful.
That would be what is known in our family as a "grannyphone". My (blind, FWIW*) in-laws have them and get on very well with them.
*which possibly is not much. I know other blind people who are wizards on adapted smartphones. But my almost 80 year old mother in law has no interest in figuring them out.
I have an old I phone I never use. About two years ago I bought an old peoples Jitterbug phone. I love it. phone, text, pictures only and I do not use the pictures. It rings loud enough for me to hear and has high setting when talking. It also has a button I can push to get a ride and they track me. Another great feature is a large red emergency button. I passed out earlier this year and pressed the button before I passed out, but could not speak to them. They called my neighbor who came over and called for help.
Happy Birthday. Of course 60 is Not Old! Though earlier this week my 24 year old son and daughter-in-law were talking about a friend who is ‘really old’: turned out he is 30!
Comments
Apropos Eigon's bow, in my youth I could pull a 45 lb bow and a 90 lb crossbow. Not any more!
10 years ago I bought a bit of very posh hi-fi equipment. The other day I went to lift it ... hmm ... I need help!
Afraid not. My friend is female and has been part of the support team on the tour.
Mind you, she’s probably shared lunch with Ian Anderson and others; a dozen of them are travelling around in the same bus.
It's some years since I did archery (compound bow) and I remember 60lb being the maximum allowed in NSW, Australia.
I was just thinking of archery club rules.
Got it.
We didn’t even get as far as my strengths.
They should only be used from a trusted source in any case. Otherwise, using one is a blind leap into the unknown, like clicking on a link in a random email.
Far too young
Too young, with lots of promise
Young
After a good life
At a good age
That made me smile, and attempt to put numbers on those criteria. In numbers terms I think I fall into your second category - but without the promise, let alone lots of it.
* Brassiere event horizon.
HMMV of course
Alan Bennet in his diaries confides that for men, in old age, earlobes get larger whilst ... er other bits ... get smaller.
Conversely, my mother would be 83 in December were she still alive but always used bags.
Joint episode of feeling old last night. Cheery husband purchased a new electric scooter to ride to work. Last night, after refusing my offer to collect him as he was staying late (an office move is in progress); he had a fall after moving off the shared path to make extra room for a pedestrian - he fell in a hole. He now has a fractured arm and spent from 9.30pm to 3.30am at A&E getting x-rayed and decision re casting or not. We are both shattered not having slept much. I was grateful for little traffic on the road as I was concerned about driving in the wee small hours. Today I am barely functional and having a bed day. I hope husband is napping at lunchtime. We used to be able to run on minimal sleep for a day or so, but no longer ....
It only a matter of time before the two collided.
Yep, I know that one. Every time we "forgot" we had another one coming. Mrs. Gramps and I did not use the pill, though.
With apologies to Elizabeth Barret Browning
How do I call you? Let me count the ways:
The icons are there, in serried arrays,
but often they vanish, sometimes for days.
Smartphone and texting, Facebook and X
and whatever they think is gonna come next.
There all of them there on my tiny device.
But just to talking to you would be very nice.
I'm in need of an update, I've often been told,
As my battery's flat and my apps are too old.
And arthritic fingers don't work when they're cold.
So what am I doing, this aged has-been,
Poking about dimly, reloading the screen?
I lose my emojis, say something obscene.
I wish it had valves, with their nice warming glow,
I much preferred buttons, on a dial, in a row --
So how do I call you? Does only God only know?
And grandchildren, of course.
Any advice?
But you need to see and test drive it before you buy, as a lot of these things (in my experience) have just as many complications as the ordinary phones--it's as if they started out with a good idea, but then at the last minute, someone developed doubt, and said "But surely they'll complain if we don't add x" (and y, and z...) And as a result, the only thing that is truly simple is the appearance. So be careful.
*which possibly is not much. I know other blind people who are wizards on adapted smartphones. But my almost 80 year old mother in law has no interest in figuring them out.
Likewise!
RR XX
7th decade, one assumes.
Oops, quite so!!