The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

Softstuff

I was subjected to exactly the reverse situation twice recently Monnagran. In a jeans shop I asked if they had any straight leg, not skinny jeans.... I was directed to a seniors clothing store. At the dinner table last night my friends two daughters had a discussion, one had said I looked older than my age... the other said I didn't, but qualified that to the her sister "you're not supposed to tell people when they look old" :rotfl:

Over here my husband and I called that being "hairhoused", this follows my friends visit to a hairdressers called "hairhouse warehouse". She went on my mothers behalf to ask if they did a wash and blowdry for pensioners, and the young teen said "is that for you?". My friend, aged 49 at the time, was not amused.

moneyistooshorttomention

Softstuff - you should worry re clothes....

I'm seriously wondering whether to dye my hair (ie so that it isn't white any longer) after several recent incidents. I put it down to a one-off a while back when I was on a walk with several people and got offered their dog by one of them (ie to drag me up a hill).

But I've had two more incidents in last few weeks -I was offered a helping hand twice on a recent walk and a man (very politely) stood up and offered me his seat whilst waiting for a bus. I do hope I'm not looking that old.

I've got a policy decision of smile nicely/say "thank you" and, in the case of offered seats (or dogs to pull me up a hill) then take the offer. But I am wondering - even though my hairdresser and several others say how they like the colour my hair has gone.

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Oh Monna, Pickle sounds like just the best treat of a grandchild.

Mar, I often think the best moneysavers are the ones who do what works for them. If an online order works best then do an online order.

I'm afraid I still have the opposite age problem, although I find it less pleasant than Monna with people thinking I'm younger than I am. I find this most inconvenient when buying wine or beer and being asked for ID. The last time I told the clerk I was sorry but I'd have to put it back because I didn't have ID on me and she asked how old I was. I said 33 and she said 'are you sure??' She decided to trust me and I'd brought ID the following time and she found it greatly amusing to confirm my age.

I'm also often mistaken for a student around Uni. I had once arranged a round table for the first seminar of term and was sitting down waiting for the students. A few had filed in and started chatting. 'What do you think she'll be like? Have you heard anything about her?' Fortunately everyone had arrived before the other one answered as I really didn't want to overhear the response. Their faces were a picture when I started the seminar. :rotfl: My colleagues often ask why I dress up so much to teach and I tell them it makes things less awkward for the students.

Leftover lasagna for my lunch--butternut squash this time. Soup for tea, prepared by OH and some sort of pudding. I work from home this morning, have an early lunch, head to yoga and then head out to teach so I'll be a zombie by the time I get home.

Hugs to all who need them.x

Slowly57

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Softstuff - you should worry re clothes....

I'm seriously wondering whether to dye my hair (ie so that it isn't white any longer) after several recent incidents. I put it down to a one-off a while back when I was on a walk with several people and got offered their dog by one of them (ie to drag me up a hill)..

Heh - I get taken across the road regularly when stumping along with my walking stick (not white or NHS) and wearing sunglasses.:rotfl:

ivyleaf

I was charged "Pensioners' rate" at a coffee shop some years ago. I was in my early fifties, but using a walking stick at the time.

monnagran Pickle is so sweet :A

mardatha and Hester - Thinking of you xx

monnagran

FairyP: Enjoy it as long as it lasts. I was always taken to be much younger than I am until about 10 years ago. Suddenly no one turned a hair when I proffered my bus pass or Senior Railcard.

It's not nice!

On the other hand I have recently had someone on the phone who wouldn't believe that I was in my late seventies. Of course, he couldn't see me, thankfully.

Lovely day here and I have nothing in particular to do. A walk on the beach I think.

x

moneyistooshorttomention

I remember that one Monna - ie of how I used to be taken as younger than my age for some time.

Hence cynics comment of "You know you're getting older - when people normally take you as the age you actually are:(".

Still - could be worse - as I can certainly think of several people I know that look years older than their age - but I know they are actually about the same age as me and one of them in fact is quite a few years younger than me. So - count blessings for not looking older than my age at any rate:)

fuddle

Growing up with 'people watchers' translated to judgemental discussions about people's appereances or how rough their paper round must have been made for a very shallow existance. Yip, me. I had no confidence and relied on buying stuff to show people I was making it successfully in the world. No one was going to think of me like my family thought of others!

Fast forward to now and I don't give a rats. I am me wearing my healthy complexion (most of the time) and my naturally salt and pepper hair. Judge if you will, it's no skin off my nose because it's so much better than hangups.

Please don't deny getting older as it's a privilege denied to many.

Hard_Up_Hester

I'm the same Fuddle, no interest in what I wear etc, I know people at work talk about me behind my back but at least then they are giving some other poor sod a rest!

[Deleted User]

I'm like you FUDS I don't care one tiny bit what the rest of the world thinks, our lives and lifestyle suit us and we're the only ones that concerns in any way. I have very little that was ever new but everything I DO have gives me satisfaction and is used and valued. My appearance is for me, I have grey hair, too many pounds on my hips and I think casually casual describes my look ( you've met me, so you know what I mean) most people would call it scruffy!. The things I really value can't be bought and are not priceable in material terms, relatively good health, no debts, enough for our needs on a day to day basis, a warm coat, waterproof shoes, a home of our own with a stove to keep us warm and enough wood to run it for the winter, friends here to keep me company and keep me smiling, my family comes top of the list their love and friendship is the core of my being and I need nothing more for complete contentment.

Let people judge if they will, it doesn't cause us to loose sleep and if they DO judge and find us lacking well, we wouldn't want them in our lives anyway!

On the subject of either looking older than your age or not looking your age Nell who is 38 was IDd again on Saturday in Sainsburys when she was trying to buy a bottle of wine, even when she HAS identification in the form of her staff pass for school they don't really believe her. She's taken to carrying her Passport at all times and still sometimes they are sceptical, it's gone past being annoying, flattering or funny and now she just says OK don't sell me the wine then and walks!!!