Friday 29 July 2016

Summer, Rain and Old Man


Summer is with us, I can tell by the rain!
I have an old tape of a series of 15 minute programmes re King George V diaries.  These cover 1914 and the year leading up to war.  In all he details the weather first, he was after trained by the Royal Navy and weather watching comes natural to those working outside let alone at sea.  From January right into July his comments almost always feature cold winds and rain!  On occasions it is warm enough to set up the tent and work outside in the garden but even by July 22nd he is complaining of 'Rain again' and 'You would not believe it was July.'  
When war erupts (the UK war began on 4th July) the weather was lovely and people had a days holiday to scamper down to the s ea or head for country pubs.  On returning they discovered they were at war.  No doubt it rained again after that.
Now being officially old I had to confirm my details with the local council and posted the details in their letterbox this afternoon.  I then walked in the cloudy sunshine around town looking for bargains and got caught in the rain.  Innit though? 
The details posted show I am now officially too old for anything but voting Conservative and visiting the 'Derby & Joan' club.  For the past 15 years I have however been officially able to buy one of those retirement properties for the over 50's (not that I have money) and wonder why 50 is still seen as old?  With my good looks people often mistake me for someone in his twenties (oh yes they do) and I am amazed at the aged faces around me who are considerably younger and often more unfit.
One postie I have known for about 15 years has always looked to be on the verge of retirement yet she is still not of that age!  Incredible!  Next door the two folks I once thought had retired are only around 55!  They look much older but I suppose that much alcohol can have that effect.  In the museum we allow old people to enter at half price and on occasion I have to guess carefully what the age is, it is not easy to tell.  I have got into trouble once or twice this way unsettling a woman or two who was touchy about her years.  Most of course are happy for me to argue they are only 39 and chancing it.
There are times in your life when age matters.  Being a teenager, reaching 18 and officially allowed in pubs or to drive or whatever you have been banned from until then, although in other nations the age may differ of course.  Waking up one day and realising you are the age you always considered 'old' or 'Granddaddyish' and realising you are now old is another!  Now I have reached 65 and the paperwork says 'You are now useless, just death to come, please move quickly to Bournemouth or Eastbourne.'  Rejoice!  Rejoice! 

5 comments:

Lady Di Tn said...

MR A I had to laugh at the dawning of your years. It happen to me at the same age but I was walking the track at our local YMCA and I looked about at all the other folks and thought my what a lot of old people are here. Then I realized I was one of them. I started laughing and was stared at light I had lost my mind instead of realizing I was one of them. LOL Peace

the fly in the web said...

65 here gets you free entry to museums - hint - half price or free bus fares AND a special queue in government offices and banks. Mark you, by the time some granny brandishing a file of papers gets to the desk, you might as well queue with the youngsters...
Had you lived in my first village in France you would now qualify for the OAP's club....a hotbed of vice and crime..

Lee said...

Age 'tis just a number....the number of aches and pains...

carol in cairns said...

You sound in good spirits for another birthday, if that is indeed what you are marking Adullaman. Perhaps you will live until 100, so in that respect 65 is not old. Many happy returns good Sir.

Adullamite said...

Lady, It is the way!

Fly, I might pop over to your France maybe...
er, Free in museums, surely not?

Lee, Indeed as I know.

carol, Not a birthday just Pension folks acknowledgement that I am old...