Is anyone else feeling particularly old at the moment?

I found myself at 9.00pm on Friday night in the kitchen doing the washing up, so I put the radio on; I pretty much only listen to Radio 4 these days. A play was just starting - one of a series to mark three decades since the height of punk. I was loathe to listen to this but as a pretty-well captive audience, I stuck with it. It was, needless to say, a pile of wank, sprinkled with bursts of punk songs, all, if I am not much mistaken, available on a cheapo CD called: '1977 - The Spirit of Punk', which I bought in moment of weakness at Tesco last year, to give me a boost in the car on the way in to work.

So anyway - THREE DECADES since I was a short-arsed little Grimsdale, pogo-ing away at Dingwalls, the Marquee, the 100 Club etc. Three decades...and now, not only do they produce plays about the era for bleedin' Radio 4, but the local Tory MP states on his website: "...Graham has a wide range of interests from football to economics, climate change to motorcycling, mental health to punk rock." He's a year older than me...

I used to think (rightly!) that having been a punk at the right time made me a bit cooler than the average Dad, now I see myself as being a bit like those old blokes that used to sell the Evening Standard outside Tottenham Court Road tube who still had their Teddy Boy quiff fashioned from their scant, grey hair.

Cheer me up someone. Please.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 9:43, 63 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Well look at it this way...
You're nearer to retirement than most of us, so not long until you can enjoy it!
(Ethelred is watching cheese grow, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 9:45, Reply)

^ OK...
...that's supposed to cheer me up is it?????
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 9:56, Reply)

It gives you
something to look forward too :)

Also means you get to eat Werthers Originals with gay abandon.
(Ethelred is watching cheese grow, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:02, Reply)

Didn't...
...Gay Abandon play drums for the Slits?
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:08, Reply)

I can sympathise
Being into *proper punk rock* at the right time I was well hard. Then the safety pins were replaced with frills & feathers when I gravitated towards Adam & The Ants combined with *proper goth.* I'd assumed this might earn my 39 and one third self a bit of street cred with my son. Of course, nowadays he & his chums regard goths as more than a tad on the sad side....

On the plus(?)side, I did hear recently that I'm regarded as a MILF by some of Sweary Jr's mates......(they are 12!!!) That was far worse than finding increasing quantities of grey hair :o/

Are they even wanking yet?
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:11, Reply)

My mother
is considered a MILF by many of my friends, even back in school. She loves it, but I find it a tad weird myself.
(Ethelred is watching cheese grow, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:17, Reply)

*worries*
Occasionally I'm finding that some women who look attractive to me are GILFs...
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:22, Reply)

^ does the G stand for Girl
or is that too obvious?

Perhaps it stands for Gash??
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:25, Reply)

As long it's not...
...Grimsdales ILF!!
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:30, Reply)

^ heh heh
Now, that would be counter-productive in the cheering up process :o)
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:33, Reply)

It's always Gash, of course
but in this particular instance, it's Granny... :(
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:36, Reply)

Eeeeeough!
What, with blue rinses and all?

Now I feel young.... ;o)
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:39, Reply)

Cheers K2k6
You actually made me feel young for about half a minute...until I remembered that I have a 21 year old daughter, so Mrs G is certainly old enough to be a Gran, and still very 'f'-able.

So thanks for nothing!

On the other hand, I've just seen your photo on your profile and I don't feel so bad. So nerrrr.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:47, Reply)

I keep finding grey pubes : (
No-one told me about them.


I'm 43 with a tattoo, (might get more), peircings and have a penchant for t-shirts with skulls on them.


I'm a sad old cunt but as the Sex Pistols once screamed.......'and I don't care'.
( girlinthehole, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:50, Reply)

Don't worry yourself about it.
I only really listen to Radio 4 all the time; it infuriates me, I shout at it, argue with John Humphries, laugh at the risible plays (although sometimes they're good) and bemoan the silly questions they tend to ask on "Desert Island Discs".

I'm 25.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:53, Reply)

Just checking...
Are they YOUR grey pubes, or someone else's?
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:54, Reply)

*Snort*
Oh Che! your so funny......not.
( girlinthehole, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:59, Reply)

Not with blue rinses
I'm not 40 yet, but women my age are old enough to be grandmothers, and indeed some are.

It still worries me though.

And thanks Che. Ya bastard :)

For the record, all of my pubes are still the original colour.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:01, Reply)

Age is irrelevant!
You're only old if you can remeber William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton as Doctor Who (and even then - kudos, as you probably got to see all the episodes that the Beeb, in its wisdom, destroyed. Sob).

I'm 37 and still have a mohican... with grey bits.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:01, Reply)

Hi DG
I only remember John Pertwee - but then we didn't get a telly until the moon landings - and I can remember that!
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:03, Reply)

I can just about remember la Pertwee...
But I was born the year after the moon landings.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:06, Reply)

I wish my Dad had been an original punk.
So that, in 'The Little Devil Book of Cool', does make you cooler than the average Dad.

So ner.

EDIT: I'm a child of the 80's (well, 1980 in fact), so The Doctor for me will always be McCoy. And it's a bit galling to know that, when I eventually propogate my seed, my offspring will eventually ask me about the musical revolutions of my childhood.

The 90's were shit.
( Devil_In_Tights the *real* DiT!, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:10, Reply)

Hello Che
hmm to cheer you up im younger than you and my body is starting to fall apart.

knee is shot and needs physio and now my left thumb has joined the achey "could be the onset of arthritis" party.

Still, have all my own teeth and a decent head of (slightly greying) hair.
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:10, Reply)

@ D_G
Is that a coincidence? You sure it wasn't 9 months after, rather than a year?
(Ethelred is watching cheese grow, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:13, Reply)

Definitely not...
December 1970, the week before Christmas... what a shit time to have a birthday.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:17, Reply)

Yikes!
Now DG is here & has caught me playing - I'm supposed to be in the kitchen!
(Not in a sexist way, we're emptying all the cupboards ready to have it all ripped out tomorrow.)
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:19, Reply)

That's alright my love
After all I'm meant to be working!
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:21, Reply)

BGB
Your mention of grey pubes has reminded me of Billy Connolly - years ago, he reckoned he had so many grey pubes that from a certain angle his willy looks like Stewart Granger :o)
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:22, Reply)

DG
That's true! Still, I'd better go and crack on a bit...

See ya all later!

*waves*
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:24, Reply)

Thanks DiT and Halfy

I'm actually feeling a bit more cheerful now.

My Sprog was very pleased to be able to say that I'd been a Punk, when her best mate's dad had been into Yes (snort). Nowadays, I get all my new music from her - she was into 'indie' music pretty early, and more so at Uni. Now, for birthdays etc. I get cd's full of Beirut, Regina Spektor, Nouvelle Vague, Feist and a dozen other bands I can't possibly remember. So all those years of playing eclectic music at her has finally paid off.

I think my problem is that I turned 45 last month. That puts me into the '45 - 55' age bracket, rather than the '35 - 45'; I am no longer in my early 40s - and that was bad enough. Still, I too have all me own teeth (though it's probably 6 or 7 years since I was chucked out of the last available NHS dentist within 20 miles), and what little hair I have left is still recognisably brown. It's the chest hair that going grey the quickest - and that's not a good look.

Oh well...
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:28, Reply)

I suppose I'd best get back to it myself
Busy working on a presentation for my interview on Monday. I say interview - it's a 10 minute presentation, followed by a 40 minute interview, then a one hour written exercise, and finally a 20 minute role playing exercise based on a performance issue. I.e. 'This bloke's been a cunt at work, how are you gonna handle it diplomatically'?

All this jumping through hoops for what will amount to a couple of extra fish a month... Is it worth it?

Probably...
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:32, Reply)

@Che
I turned 43 last month.

Yay! for June babies.


I'm learning to love my grey hair, (on my head). No more dyeing for me. I think there's some hot women out there with grey hair.
( girlinthehole, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:35, Reply)

@ BGB
Surely they're only hot because they're going through the menopause?

_{couldn't resist - sorry}
(Pavlov's Frog figures no-one really reads sigs anyway, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:38, Reply)

OMG! the menopause.
I forgot about that.

*fears*
( girlinthehole, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:41, Reply)

Careful PFrog!

If you want to live as long as me you'd do best to keep thoughts like that to yourself...

...or learn to duck quickly.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:42, Reply)

Che - only 45?
Pah! That's nothing - I'd call that middle-youth. And honestly, would you really want to be younger again? Having to go through all the angst & shite? Tis all in the mind honey. Numbers are irrelevant (regarding age).

Anyway, you seem a decent well-rounded chap with a good heart. That's what counts.

(I packed 4 tins while I was away there.)
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:47, Reply)

Grey hairs
I got my first one when I was 6. Fortunately I think that was a lone hunter, lost and weary. Not part of a scouting party, heralding the approach of the white-hair army. Well, I dye my hair so often that I don't know if I'm going grey or not.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:48, Reply)

Menopause
So called because it makes men pause before they say ANYTHING to you.

After 20 years you've just about got living with a woman sorted (honestly!). Both of you can read the signs, you keep a check on the dates etc. learn to live with mood swings - what choice do you have? Then...the odd month goes missing - if you know what I mean - panic, real mood swings lasting days, regrets, tears, anger, energy, tiredness, pain - this must be it. No, more moods, then real panic. Then, six week later, back to normal. Normal being the usual dose of regular mood swinging - the relief!

Oh yes. It's only just started really, but bodes ill for the next ten years or so I can tell you.

That retirement's looking better all the time.

EDIT: Thanks Tourette's - and you're right - I wouldn't go back, but youth is wasted on the young - I just wish they'd do something really worthwhile with it, instead of sleeping through it - literally and metaphorically.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:51, Reply)

I agree with Tourettes
It's only a number, at the end of the day. It gives absolutely no indication of personality, sense of humour, or anything else important. Society likes to put people in groups and stereotypes them, like the over 60s hating modern music, or the under 20s being feckless. It's all bullshit, anyway - as long as you're a good person, and you have people that like and respect you, who cares how many years it's been since you were born?

EDIT Surely the menopause can't be all bad? After all, it means you can have unprotected sex without any of the worries and hassle. Of course, being male, I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, so feel free to tell me to bugger off...
(Pavlov's Frog figures no-one really reads sigs anyway, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:52, Reply)

I watched the moon landings, apparently
although I was only a few months old and can't remember it.

And I didn't start watching Doctor Who until the Tom Baker era. So he's what I think of as the Doctor. Although the current incumbent is giving him a run for his money.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:53, Reply)

A cynic replies...

Age is just a number; beauty's only skin deep; size doesn't matter; cheats never prosper; it's darkest before the dawn...

I may spend the afternoon thinking up some replacements for this lot - feel free to join in.

"Pedants always slip up eventually"

"Cynicism is the refuge of the unadventurous"

"Read my knuckles: 'No new taxes' "
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 12:03, Reply)

Hi Che
Age means nothing, not a thing at all. It's all about how you feel in yourself.

Me I'm a spritely 39, born 69 days before man landed on the moon, and honestly I still feel in my mid 20s.

And the only grey hair I have is in my beard!
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 13:00, Reply)

I knew I was growing old
when aged 21, I saw my friend's younger sister smoking in front of her parents and her parents not minding at all.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 13:05, Reply)

The only thing I miss about being young.
Apart from having a perkier body is being able to cope with hangovers.

They are now my nemisis.
( girlinthehole, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 13:12, Reply)

I like some things about getting older
I like the fact that although I was an Adam and the Ants fan I can still pull men considerably younger than myself. I also like the fact that because I have so much more confidence now I really don't give a toss what people think of me (most of the time!).

But the best thing is seeing girls I went to school with who look old and wrinkled and I may have grey hairs but I don't have any wrinkles.

Sunblock and moisturiser FTW!

EDIT - All that said I do feel ancient when I have to explain the past to students.
"Yes, there was a time before the internet. Yes, we did cope with black and white televisions"
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 13:30, Reply)

@ Chicken
Its the black and white flickering memories you have issues with ;)
(Ethelred is watching cheese grow, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 13:48, Reply)

Yep, all my memories are in black and white
Oh, and Tom Baker was Doctor Who. Or possibly Peter Davidson.

Nah...Tom Baker was *my* Doctor Who.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 13:58, Reply)

We got our first colour telly
when I was 5, for the 1974 World Cup. I don't remember much of the B&W one previous to it, but I do remember the day the colour one was installed. Much excitement.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 14:06, Reply)

On the bright side

I heard Jonathan Coe on the radio just the other day ('What a Carve Up' - the film has just been released on DVD). If you've not read him, most of his books are set in the dim and distant 1970s and 80s. Perhaps it's time to give it a proper go. When Mrs G and I met, we actually exchanged letters as she didn't have a phone. I'd have to wait up to a week to read a reply - must have made me the man I am; I guess it makes you say things up front, as you don't have instant feedback; probably made me think a little harder before committing myself to words...who knows?

Anyway, much more cheerful now and half an hour in the hot, hot sun with Ian Rankin at lunchtime plus the remains of last night's curry has helped too - as well as all of your words of wisdom [abandons idea of stupid aphorisms].
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 14:09, Reply)

Some days I feel very fucking old.
Other days I feel like I'm still a teenager. And I've been 45 for about six months now.

What's kinda funny is that my kids went through a phase of raiding my CD collection. In fact, I think my oldest still has a few of them...

At the moment I'm in a very chaotic state of mind, as I feel like life has gone slipping by and I still don't know what I want to do with my life. I'm told that this is fairly common among people of my age.

Fuck.

By this point I should have that figured out, ya know?

And last night I was watching CSI, and they had Ally Sheedy on there. Remember her? The cute brunette from all those godawful 80s teen movies? I looked it up- she was born in 1962.

Believe it or not, this is a flattering picture of her now:



I don't want to know what Molly Ringwald looks like. The possibilities give me the jibblies.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 29 Jul 2008, 14:14, Reply)

Dammit, TRL
That's spoiled my day a bit! I used to have teenage fantasies about Ally Sheedy, in Short Circuit, War Games and so on. And in my mind she was still that slender 20-ish babe.


That said, I still would.

Edit - I just Googled Molly Ringwald. I don't recommend it.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 14:19, Reply)

She's a very attractive woman
Although it does look as though her face is a little frozen....
EDIT
And what's wrong with Molly Ringwald? There's a recent picture of her here
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Molly_Ringwald_Detroit_Michigan_2007-05-02.jpg
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 14:23, Reply)

Tell me about it.
I was looking forward to a nice-looking brunette close to my own age, and was confronted with a considerably aged harridan with deep wrinkles on her forehead and neck and the puppet mouth. She looks a good ten years older than me, frankly- not because I've held up so well, but because age has given her a serious spang.

Bastards, they should have let her fade to obscurity.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 29 Jul 2008, 14:23, Reply)

I googled Molly Ringwald.
Bad idea if you're at work. They were nice and perky, but dangerous to have on my monitor here.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 29 Jul 2008, 14:28, Reply)

I think your all being a little harsh with Molly and Ally.
*slaps wrists*

I've googled Molly and she looks fine for her age. Ally just needs to put a few pounds on and it will fill out her face a little.

Edit - I think the problem with Hollywood actresses is their need to stay very thin which as you get older can age you considerably. It always wise to stay a little chubbier when your 40+, well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
( girlinthehole, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 14:53, Reply)

@Al
So what kind of biscuits do you like?
( girlinthehole, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 15:04, Reply)

It happens.
Take a look at Angelina:



Has she gone Winehouse on us and been starving herself? Look at her hands! GAH!

As for Ally... well, seeing her on CSI was a shock as they zoomed in on her face. Even the Lunatic Artist was appalled at the changes that have hit her.

I still don't know what Molly Ringwald currently looks like, as searching for her images online tends to bring up a lot of NSFW stuff.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 29 Jul 2008, 15:04, Reply)

@Al
Could you be swayed with a jammy dodger?

*looks sultry*
( girlinthehole, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 15:22, Reply)

@Al
God! your a tart.
( girlinthehole, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 15:29, Reply)

Ummmm...
Let's see if I've got the Britspeak right here.

jam rag= tampon/Kotex
todger= cock

jammy dodger= something I don't want to contemplate.

I knew I should have stayed off-line today...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 29 Jul 2008, 15:29, Reply)

@TRL Re wanting to know what you're doing with your life:
Don't worry about it. Many people in their 40's don't know either. On the plus side, your open future can make you a more dynamic, spontaneous and interesting person.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 16:21, Reply)

If nothing else
I'm adaptable and dynamic- often I'll come up with something I wish to do but know nothing about, so I'll read a bit about it and then give it a shot. This has applied to stained glass, carpentry, plumbing, metal working, wood working, cooking, and countless other areas in my life. I'm a jack-of-all-trades and master of none.

Which basically means that I suck at more things than most people.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 29 Jul 2008, 16:28, Reply)

^ ^
I'm a bit like that too. It does mean lacking in focus at times, but on the other hand, you get to explore yourself a lot this way and squeeze out many interesting experiences.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 16:38, Reply)