A Certain Age

Retitle the thread 'Uncertain Age'?

Had to go for a checkup myself last week, to see if I am more senile this year than last.

Last year tests took 1 hour, including waiting time

This year total time 35 mins, so far so good !

Doc says, "Dont know why they send you down here, nothing much wrong with your mind "

I said, "Perhaps just to keep you busy ?"

She replied, "No need for that, let me tell you, it,s a very common problem with people of advanced years "

Note-not OLD PEOPLE but those of "Advanced years". I like that term, makes me feel better.

Just wondering that at 82, when do I cease being of "Advanced years" and become "OLD" ?

I,m just wondering that at 82 when do I cease being of "Advanced years" and become " OLD"

Scary !!!

Larry,

In my case, it was my last birthday, when I reached 77!

Incidently, I've also had the "We are supposed to check on people like you to see if your mind is OK. I can tell you're OK." That was about 5 years ago.

Peter G. Shaw

There are compensations for being "mature", of "advanced years" or whatever is the popular wording not to cause offence.

Am now waiting to be summoned for my first Covid shot! Wife will have to wait another month to jump the queue!

In my book, you are as old as you feel. Sadly it varies from day to day and time to time.

Walking to and from town, the 4 mile round trip sometimes needs a short sit down on the way home. (Watching the wildlife on the river, and admiring the flora and scenery" is the excuse. Can't be too long or the journey exceeds the 50 minute trip allowance )

Now, where was I? What am I here after?

Howard.

One of my tricks is to try to remember too many things at once:

"Take the tea-mug back indoors and make a brew, fetch the M6 taper tap from the set in the front room, look for 4-off M6 washers in the box in the kitchen."

Some while later I will be stomping around demanding to know where I put the tap, while the tea goes cold. The tap knows where it is. It's snug in the set in the front room.

'

There was an intriguing but rather reassuring item on Radio Four's All In The Mind recently, to the effect that many of us are suffering from temporarily weakened memories thanks to the loss of stimuli by all the current restrictions and lock-downs.

'

Speedy Builder -

My club has cleared a number of passed-on members' workshops for the family. One or two members liaise with the family, organise selling the models (often the most valuable property) then arrange a sale morning or two for the members generally. Sometimes they have brought the last lots of bits and bobs - odd tools, come-in-handy materials etc. - to the club-house.

I have appointed my nephew and niece as Executors and am preparing instructions on what I want done with my workshop contents, and similarly my caving and geology items.

Wow! You get to keep your taps in the front room and washers (makes refreshing a change from dish and clothes) in the kitchen, pure opulence indeed. Respect.

Regarding Larry's point, have you noticed the signs on the hospital wards list?

Older persons when you get there it is still numbered G, ie Geriatric

Edited By KWIL on 11/12/2020 12:42:22

At the age of 73 I am find that finishing projects has become more urgent (if I can find the bits).

JA

A friend's 91 year old father-in-law went into hospital a few years ago after a fall, he was quite deaf and losing his sight. So appeared rather 'out of it' in the dementia stakes - however after having this explained to the staff by my friend and his wife the granddaughter, who works in the NHS as a Nursing Sister, on making a visit was pleased to see a picture hanging over his bed of an owl. This she said was a sign that he may appear less than lucid but was not suffering dementia!

So, if you get into hospital check two things - 1. you have an owl picture over your bed and 2. count how many beds you are from the entrance! The closer to the entrance the more likely you are 'critical' - it means it is less likely to upset the other occupants when they wheel you out feet first.

We are thinking of having a high speed stairlift fitted so that we get upstairs before we forget what we have gone up for

Use it or loose it . Because of Covid, most people have gotten 'dumber' as they are not having social interactions so don't need to think as much as previously.

About 30+ years ago I remember reading that your IQ drops by an average of 10 points when you go on holiday,

It's an even bigger drop if it's 'all in' organised so your woken up and fed, bused to 'attractions', museum, etc by tour operator.

The less you need to think the more you 'unwind' and the dumber you get

I'm famously absent-minded. A decade ago, having parked in our local town, I 'lost' my car, with daughter inside. About half an hour's rising panic, until she found me and reminded me that I had moved the car... That's possibly the biggest 'brain f*rt' I remember, but several per day has been a life-time experience. It's not getting any worse, so hopefully I might be forgetting how to be absent-minded, and things might improve as age creeps on. (Some hope...)

Relieved to see that I am not the only one forgetting things but old age does have its compensations. Mid 80's now and when I shop, the young ladies refer to me as "love" or "Darling" and "lovely". A young male cashier at the shop greeted me with "Hello Butty" this morning. I feel accepted at last, possibly because I don't wear shorts , displaying tattoos in the winter so not seen as anything more than an old guy.

What a great thread. Yep I am above a certain age LOL! A habit I had when working professionally was to have an engineering "day book". Originally a Quarto latterly A4 hard back. Everything went in there, sketches , ideas, phone numbers, reps names, meeting minutes. A great habit lost for a long while since retirement. Now resurrected when I can remember to cart it around. It does work and you can improve. Crosswords and logic puzzles letting the tele burble to itself are a boon when the legs have given up at night.,

However what irks me is thinking Ahh Light bulb moment. Must look that up on the internet and by the time its booted up thinking what the hell an I doing on here.

However Speedy thats all a very laudable ethic and one I would support in theory. The problem is (risking the wrath of many) that most clubs are not as welcoming as they would like you to believe. This hobby per se is not as welcoming as it would have you believe. Many clubs and Associations have descended into politically motivated parochialism for the few. Sadly its endemic across the globe. I am a recluse through it, I know one very well known ME author that also feels the same way. There are the the junior office clerks who are self styled experts and know more about you than you do and so on. They become offended, aggresive abusive and derisory when they find out you have a lifetime of professional experience. But what is really bad stuff from ME clubs is the way they despise disabled people or anyone they think has more knowledge than them the inner circle. There was a very long discussion in AME recently on this very subject after a partially sighted but very interested visitor to a club invited and accompanied by a member in standing had been ordered rudely from the site by a jobs worth. Most clubs hate kids anyway.

Some of us try to do our bit behind the scenes in our own little way showing neighbours kids and spreading the word, working shows in allied hobbies. But I despair of model engineering die hards and the waythey have (not) progressed (?) the hobby.. On bad days I rue the day I developed a passionate interest in it. But I am glad most times to be alone working my projects my way in my owntime with my own tools and my own designs.

It wont bother me what happens to my stuff when I go. We have loads of scrappies and I have been told so many times by the club ersatz experts thats what I build anyway.

Good fun ' ere ennit?

My very elderly neighbour went into hospital for a short period recently and found the staff questioning her about her lifestyle and social contacts etc and trying to place her on a "Fragility Index."

She became nervous that the staff were trying to establish if they should put a "Do not resuscitate" note on her file.

Bit paranoid perhaps? But just to be safe, best to invent some interests and friends - just in case!

Rod

Unfortunately your observations on club politics are as relevant in the model engineering world as they are in any other organisations I feel. It's often the case that an individual who seeks office will gather around him/her a clique of acolytes to support and enforce his particular dogmatic agenda and through this have his ego 'massaged'. Having said that any progressive organisation requires direction and drive to fulfil the memberships aspirations, and therefore, I feel, it's up to the membership to provide direction and guidance in a spirit of common purpose, but this must takes the form of 'loyal opposition' to avoid the classic mistake of 'in fighting' so common in many hobby clubs and organisations. If the common goal becomes blurred and indistinct any enthusiasm/good will evaporate and atrophy will set in accompanied schisms.

Went to the local recycling tip last week. Had to make an appointment on line and get a slot to attend. On arrival, put my face mask on before lowering the car window for pass checking. Went to the first bins, batteries and small electrical appliances. Got back into the car, the windscreen was fogged up ( heavy rain outside) , put the demister on full but gave up and edged slowly to the scrap metal bin. Got out of the car, still foggy. The air from the mask had misted up my glasses. The windscreen was clear. The old brainbox is a bit foggy too.

Daughter has bought us snoods. Being around the neck, they don't dislodge hearing aids when raised. (Ever tried crawling around a floor looking for the aid and the battery that has fallen out, among a crowd intent in going on their way? )

Best of all the specs don't mist up anything like as easily!

Just awaiting the call for the jab. Hope I can remember where and when to go.

Howard

I seem to have reached an age (76) where middle aged people think that I need blessing.

They say “bless you” or even worse “ah bless” when I do something pretty normal in life.

I find this demeaning and irritating, if I wanted blessing then I would find a competent person to do it (unlikely anyway).

Shortly I am pretty sure one of these people will find out that I know nearly as many swear words as their children do!

Edited out auto smileys!

Edited By V8Eng on 29/12/2020 13:32:09