Junk Mail and Nuisance Calls!!

When I reached the age of 50 I started getting junk mail, mainly catalogues illustrating sensible nighties - you know the ones I mean? The ones  which are long with a little collar and 3 buttons .....and at an exorbitant price! I also got many leaflets showing the benefits of stair lifts and.....others on sheltered housing!

So what or who triggers this - someone is selling or  giving targeted information. I now post mail back "return to sender"

Cold calls are also on the increase even though we have telephone preference service! Maybe knowing we are retired they target 12, 2 and 4. We are getting to the stage where we will just let calls go to voicemail.

Yesterday I had one who said ...."do you have problems with mobility?"  I said "why" she cheekily said "just asking" .........

What is surprising and also insulting is that they assume people in a certain age group are all infirm or certainly past it! The grey vote has disposable income and some considerable. Next April access to pensions funds will be made so much easier. Marketing companies should think about targeting enjoyment  and leisure activities. Longevity is increasing - 50s 60s 70s 80s and beyond are  not how they used to be and can give youngsters a run for their money!  Many are pursing activities our parents would never have dreamed of doing!

In the meantime we have to still put up with the junk mail ......our postman says it helps to keep him in a job - and the nuisance calls. These methods must work otherwise they wouldn't do it.... .....

The Late, Great Joan Rivers!

So sad the passing of Joan Rivers. She was so talented, funny and irreverent  - so  rare these days. What is also remarkable about her, which has become clear over the past few days, is what a trooper the woman was. She experienced the highs and lows of her personal life and career and met all with great resilience.

In her private life her husband committed suicide but she had the support of her daughter and grandson. She lost her money twice as her style and humour was either in vogue ....or not. She wasn't one to wallow in misfortune and fought back. At the grand age of 81 she was still working and enjoying it. When asked whether she was going to retire  she retorted by asking why she would do that as what else would she do! She had a vitality and quick witted ness  which set her part from many of her generation. 

She was quite self deprecating and openly admitted to have "procedures" which became an avenue of material for show. She was the epitomy of old school charm and glamour which was reflected in her style and in her home.

I will miss Fashion Police and her comments on the red carpet events.  She had the confidence and chutzpah to actually articulate what many of us were thinking.

Age was no barrier to her ........when asked when she found time to sleep she reportedly said that she would have plenty of time for that when she was dead. So at least she achieved a great deal in life and left her  distinctive mark. Lessons for us all!

A New Set of Wheels!!

Well it must be 50 years since I have had a bike and this week I rectified this by buying a  Kingston Classic Hampton from Amazon.

I have been thinking about this for quite a while.  We have a cycle track where we live so ideal as I can ride off rode as I don't think I have the confidence to try the roads and traffic yet.  I am sure my husband thought I was joking about getting a bike until it arrived! It came partly assembled and I am afraid the instructions left a lot to be desired.  My husband put it together but he was still concerned about the brakes ....so we took it to a local bike repairer.

The young man who looked at it was a little disapproving as it its a "sit up and beg" style not the one the serious cyclists want!  He also said it was a funny colour!  I told him that I liked it and that is all that matters! Grrr!

Anyway its fixed and I had my first ride yesterday.......I only fell off once!  I quickly got up and made sure no-one had seen me!!  I have been out on it again today and I am getting used to it.  The expression "its like riding a bike"  is not as true as I thought.  The inference is that you never forget and just pick up where you left off!  Not the case!  Maybe as I am much older balance is a challenge and I do feel that at times the bike is running away with me!  Anyway I have put up with the good natured teasing and mockery from family and friends and I will show them quite soon how competent I am.

So what was the thinking behind my purchase? Well over the past few weeks we have seen so much in the press about keeping active and how important this is.  Now I am very active already always busy, go to the gym and so on but I thought the bike would add another dimension.  It certainly has - it is hard work - maybe because I am inexperienced but my legs and core felt as if I had done a workout.

I am a firm believer in preventative medicine - use it or lose it! Certainly when I look at some of my contemporaries I can't believe that they are resigned to "old age".  Mobility for many has become a problem and has affected their quality of life.  If you follow a sedentary life style and are overweight then you are stacking up problems for yourself.

Sermon over :)  You know what I mean though don't you?  One day I may have no option but to be dependent on others.....but  I hope I am  putting off that day!

One simple word was used this week in the campaign for health and fitness............

MOVE!!!


(ps I do have a safety helmet satisfying H & S)

Week Highlights!

Well late Friday afternoon again!!  I thought time was supposed to hang heavy as you get older but it doesn't seem to be the case in our house!! It has been a very pleasant week with planned events and time to invest in our hobbies and interests.

As always I try to go to the gym most days as it really sets me up for the day.  I prefer to go early to when I feel at my best - if I leave it later then tiredness inevitably makes the seem trip less attractive. So how did the week pan out?

Monday was essentially gardening day.  Lots of trimming back, mowing lawn and hedge cutting.  So enjoyable and therapeutic and it was a reasonable day weather wise. I also treated myself to some of the roses as rain was on the cards and they would be ruined so I thought we would have the benefit indoors.







Tuesday I met a friend for a girly lunch at Balthazar in Covent Garden.  We haven't seen each other for a while hence need for a catchup. There's nothing nicer than a long leisurely lunch  with good company and not having to rush back to work!! Retirement does have its compensations!

Wednesday we went to see "Shakespeare in Love" at the Noel Coward Theatre. Splendid production - quite mesmerising and quite emotional.

We found the film excellent and the stage production didn't disappoint - very powerful in a different way. Highly recommend it.

As we were leaving a twenty something said to his friend ...."That was great and it was Shakespeare! Makes you feel cultured when you are not!"

Laughing  at this we then popped next door to Browns for dinner - end to a perfect day!


Thursday read our newspapers on line, did my tweets before getting up! Bliss!  Cooking, cleaning and ironing filled the rest of the day. It has to be done! I also did the finishing touches to an oil painting  of a member of our family.  Will have to let him have a look and see what he thinks!! Now have to look for another subject which is often the hardest bit.......







Today went over to Chiswick to have a brief catchup with my daughter took the grandchildren to school before heading back for lunchtime with my husband. 

I can honestly say i am never bored there are so many things I want to do and I am trying my best to fit as many of them in as I can. We can never stress the importance of planning for your future enough. When you are young you don't pay so much attention to saving for retirement as it seems a long way away.  However as we tell our children if you work hard, be sensible and save as you go along then your future can be assured and you can enjoy the liberation that retirement brings.  Thankfully 50, 60, 70+ somethings don't carry the stigma of age so much and remain vital and curious about life. Providing your health holds out the wonder of new experiences is still within your grasp!!