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AIBU?

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Original poster

OMG, am mortified/horrified and shocked...........

564 replies

CleverLemonCat · 27/04/2024 15:07

Young neighbours have just moved in next door. This morning (wasn't eavesdropping, honest) heard a relative ask if they had met any of their neighbours, oh yes they replied...there is a nice old woman next door. Old? I'M ONLY 63!!

This got me wondering if I was giving off 'old lady' vibes.

Possible indications:

I occasionally glance in a shop mirror and wonder why my mum is there dressed in my clothes.
My pubic hair is disappearing, and seems to be making it's way to my chin
Last week I bought 3 lovely geraniums
Last year I bought and planted a hydrangea in my garden
After a couple of tiny accidents, am wondering if I should buy some tena lady knickers.
Caught myself wondering if I should crochet a bed jacket ...it can be chilly in bed whilst reading a book!
Am having actual conversations with my cat
My box room is stuffed with wool ' just in case'
This morning, completely out of the blue found myself singing the song from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and I CAN'T GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD.
Jumped - in my motor-car - and bought 3 more geraniums

Indications I am not old:

Ermm, I am young in my head!

I am not being unreasonable, you are in your prime!
I am unreasonable. You are heading into old biddy territory!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Desperada68 · 27/04/2024 18:44

See I was like this when I was 23. I've just grown into my paws :)

MidnightPatrol · 27/04/2024 18:44

YABU if they were able to assess your age by your pubic hair

Runnerinthenight · 27/04/2024 18:38

I refuse to be old until I can have my state pension, because then I will be a pensioner, and pensioners are old!!

I do feel ancient compared to most of my colleagues. There's only two who are older than me, and I hate it! On the other hand, it's a good excuse for having a mini filter and not giving a shit!

I only ever crocheted when I was a child. I made a hat for my new baby sibling - was 9 - and hid it in mum's hospital bag as a nice surprise. She laughed. It wouldn't have fitted a doll. I was stung, and gave up!

Pubes still going strong, and chin hairfree. Maybe there is a correlation then? Still no greys on my head either. Beautician laughs when waxing the sparse hairs on my legs and jokes that I have about 6 per leg. I wish they would feck off!

I don't like hydrangea or geraniums, though I do like gardening, but I always have!

My mum was only 62 when she died, and I think that was young.

55larry · 27/04/2024 18:35

I am 72 and I have lots of conversations in my head and sometimes out loud but I am not old. My eldest child is 50 next week but I really only mention my daughter’s age when asked because she is only 31 so that must make me young. I admit that I use my bus pass whenever I can as I don’t like spending money but I won’t sit on the seats for the elderly as I am too young to need them.

TheDogsAFloofyFool · 27/04/2024 18:33

NannyGythaOgg · 27/04/2024 18:26

Definitely not old, old, but surely old enough to not care what anyone else thinks.
I'm 69 and I'm only old when i want to be.
It's my excuse when I wear something that puts comfort before style (fashion left years ago)
It's my excuse when I talk to my cat self.
It's my excuse when I want to stay in bed in the morning
It'll be my excuse next month for being lazy when I'm on holiday (on my own in Morocco and again later this year in Turkey).

So use it to your advantage, and deny it when it suits

Oh yes!!

only old at work and when it suits me!🤣🤣

TorroFerney · 27/04/2024 18:33

AcrossthePond55 · 27/04/2024 17:47

I'm older than you @CleverLemonCat but I'm not old yet. Old age is always 5 years older than one's current age.

I'm not wearing purple with a red hat yet. But I've conquered some of the other things mentioned. And definitely making up for 'the sobriety of my youth', but in ways other than drinking too much lol.

https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/warning/

I remember studying this at school so would have been 1985 ish. I've just looked and it was written in 1961 so i suppose It has stood the test of time as it's still the poem everyone refers to when talking about old age.

I wonder what was so risque about "summer gloves" to be a thing that she mentions she will do when she is old?

Hocuspocusnonsense · 27/04/2024 18:32

If they are 18 then you are so old you serve no purpose still being alive and they can’t understand how you are still alive.

if they are 30 you are old because you’re the same age as their parents.

I’d be more upset if they’re 40 and think you’re old, that means they think you’re 75+

Teuchterlass · 27/04/2024 18:32

I have a house full of cat stuff- I don’t have a cat!
But I have a visiting one who comes after lunch, makes me follow him to the sofa and falls asleep on my lap so I have to grab an afternoon nap too!

Crazy cat lady minus cat!

TheDogsAFloofyFool · 27/04/2024 18:32

I hear you, OP!

EDF Power company definitely not robbing bastards classed me as an elderly vulnerable customer when they asked for my date of birth!!
I don’t turn 60 til the end of the year😩

Riapia · 27/04/2024 18:27

When you no longer fall over but you have a fall, that is a sign that you are old.

StormingNorman · 27/04/2024 18:27

What does the cat say about it?

NannyGythaOgg · 27/04/2024 18:26

Definitely not old, old, but surely old enough to not care what anyone else thinks.
I'm 69 and I'm only old when i want to be.
It's my excuse when I wear something that puts comfort before style (fashion left years ago)
It's my excuse when I talk to my cat self.
It's my excuse when I want to stay in bed in the morning
It'll be my excuse next month for being lazy when I'm on holiday (on my own in Morocco and again later this year in Turkey).

So use it to your advantage, and deny it when it suits

babyproblems · 27/04/2024 18:25

There’s nothing wrong with hydrangeas and geraniums.. I’m 36 😂

Arrestedforit · 27/04/2024 18:24

Reallybadidea · 27/04/2024 15:15

Why do your neighbours know about your pubic hair disappearing? 😱

I was pondering exactly the same thing! 😂

Original poster
CleverLemonCat · 27/04/2024 18:24

Have just returned from argos to buy new lawnmower, in a desperate attempt to cut lawn before it rains again. Had to navigate next town to me which is currently 99.9% roadworks. Very annoying, but I drove at appropriate speed, not the standard old persons 40 mph, so kudos to me!

Am appalled that in my absence someone has been rude and had their posts deleted!

Have reluctantly accepted that I might just be old(ish). This is evidenced by the reaction of the young man who handed over the lawnmower in argos. He offered to wheel my trolley to the car. Admit i was a bit bemused by this until he explained that if i wheeled said trolley myself - how was i going to lift the box into the car?

Wish I had accepted his offer when I blithely exited store to sirens going off, and security guard running up behind me saying it's not your fault. Dont worry!

Evidently some young whippersnapper has installed some new fangled technology which detects trolleys going into sainsbury but doesnt yet recognise the argos counter when leaving the store as it bypasses the tills! Wonders will never cease.

Have also reluctantly admitted to myself that young men smiling at me doesnt mean phwoar, cougar! Most likely means aww, she's just like my granny! Thanks mumsnetters!

Can confirm I am young at heart and determined to grow old disgracefully, they will have to take my skinny Jean's and organic Moroccan henna powder out of my cold dead hands!

Am sat eating custard creams and having a good old chuckle at the comments! Bloody hell, it's just started raining!

OP posts:
InTheUpsideDownToday · 27/04/2024 18:20

BigMandsTattooPortfolio · 27/04/2024 18:01

The shopping trolley is making a come-back:

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2024/apr/20/wheelie-bag-nanna-glamour-shopping-trolley#:~:text=You%20might%20associate%20shopping%20trolleys,vogue%20for%20“nanna%20glamour”.

I offered to buy one of those for my son at uni. Would be handy for shopping I thought!

Alittlefrustrated · 27/04/2024 18:20

Reallybadidea · 27/04/2024 15:15

Why do your neighbours know about your pubic hair disappearing? 😱

Because it's migrated to her chin

ALongHardWinter · 27/04/2024 18:18

Quite a few years ago,my late DM referred to one of her neighbours as 'the elderly lady at number 23'. The elderly lady was mid 50s. My DM was in her late 70s!

anonymous98 · 27/04/2024 18:18

Mamma26252 · 27/04/2024 18:05

I was told once by a young hip new colleague that I gave off "teacher vibes". I knew what she meant and that I looked "old".

Edited

I was told somewhat snidely by someone my age (20s!) that my coat made me look like a teacher. I was very upset as it was new and expensive.

chaosmaker · 27/04/2024 18:17

My theory is that everyone gets stuck in their head at somewhere in their twenties and don't mentally ever feel older than that... the body is another matter altogether :)

Washingupdone · 27/04/2024 18:17

CleverLemonCat · 27/04/2024 15:16

Haha, put it in to see if anyone else remembered the song!

Show quote history

How come you had a wireless in your car when I had to learn hand signals when I took my driving the test in the 60s?

Nanaof1 · 27/04/2024 18:17

HelpMeGetThrough · 27/04/2024 17:29

I felt old when I was in hospital.

I'm 52 and convinced the doctor was 14, or doing a very good impression of Doogie Howser!!

(you have to be knocking on a bit to know who Doogie Howser is).

My DH's doctor must still be in high school.

I am a bit disappointed that she's married and has three children when she cannot be older than 17. 😉

WearyAuldWumman · 27/04/2024 18:15

I'm the same age (but not for much longer...birthday coming up). I've taken to referring to myself as a crone.

CountTessa · 27/04/2024 18:12

If it helps, and I'm not sure it does as I am significantly younger by a decade, but last year I went to a Silver screen showing at a local cinema. The staff asked if I wanted to renew my membership so I agreed. They sold me the granny pass version. (Not it's real name).

Once I got over the outrage, I realised I was onto a winner as the tickets are a lot cheaper now 😂😂

MyMotherWasANarcissist · 27/04/2024 18:12

If you do knit yourself a bed jacket, please share the pattern. Had one at boarding school and loved it!