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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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
TitaniasAss · 28/04/2024 11:02

I work in a secondary school and one of the children told me recently that I was their favourite teacher. I was very touched until she followed with 'you remind me of my Nan'. Um ... thanks?

Evenstar · 28/04/2024 11:00

I saw an elderly lady recently on our local news celebrating her 111th birthday! So I really think we don’t have to think of ourselves as old in our 60’s ☺️

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 28/04/2024 10:58

Londonrach1 · 28/04/2024 06:59

You are old but how cares and what's wrong with it. It's a privilege to grow old. I lost several friends young, some illness, some car accidents. Inbrace your maturity and make the most of it. I'm approaching 50 and love my 40s better than my 20s. I see patients in their 90s who act as if there in their 20s. Age is a number and sounds like your new neighbours like have you as a neighbour

You'd feel older in Scotland, our 50th birthdays are welcomed with a little envelope for bowel screening.

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 28/04/2024 10:55

CleverLemonCat · 28/04/2024 10:44

AmaryllisNightAndDay - have just realised auto carrot may come across as a bit snarky. Not intended, it made me laugh!

Autocarrot = autocorrect. I should stop trying to be modernGrin

SabreIsMyFave · 28/04/2024 10:48

Alwaysdieting · 28/04/2024 06:46

Im 69 and dont feel old but I am. I get a bit peeved when I pay at the self serve for hubbys wine and never get challenged when the girl comes over to check.
I talk to my cat and have loads of wool its normal isnt it. Embrace it I say.

I assume that's a joke. Why would they check when you're nearly 70? 😂

Roomination · 28/04/2024 10:46

I really hope my pubes starts diminishing. I can virtually plait the fuckers.

Original poster
CleverLemonCat · 28/04/2024 10:44

AmaryllisNightAndDay - have just realised auto carrot may come across as a bit snarky. Not intended, it made me laugh!

OP posts:
Original poster
CleverLemonCat · 28/04/2024 10:22

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 28/04/2024 10:15

To those concerned over loss of public hair

Public hair? Is this an autocarrot thing or are we secret flashers?

Lol.. didnt spot typo! Am def not flasher. What is an auto carrot?

OP posts:
AmaryllisNightAndDay · 28/04/2024 10:15

To those concerned over loss of public hair

Public hair? Is this an autocarrot thing or are we secret flashers?

Original poster
CleverLemonCat · 28/04/2024 09:50

Well, woke up this morning to find that 66% have agreed that IANBU so nah,nah to those youngsters who think I am old (blows raspberry).

Admit that I am actually a bolshy post-menopausal woman who wont take any crap, but cover it well, will maintain nice old lady facade unless nuclear bolshy attitude is needed.

Young man may think I have made inappropriate advances as he seemed very alarmed when I offered him rhubarb picked from allotment this morning (do young people know what rhubarb is?) Anyway, smoothed things over by offering use of lovely new lawn mower until he gets his own.

To those concerned over loss of public hair, confirm that things started getting 'a little sparce' upon hitting the age of 60.

At same time looked in mirror to find one morning that my face had collapsed and what appeared to be 'jowls' had appeared.

Son started ringing me when ice due the next morning to warn me not to go out as ' I MIGHT HAVE A FALL - am now paranoid when out walking.

Positive is DS now invites me for lunch!

OP posts:
Nannyfannybanny · 28/04/2024 08:35

Yes, people,body hair, underarm, public,arms, legs eye brows and lashes,stops growing being re-newed probably late 60s for me. My head hair although a lot thinner still grows fast and so do my very strong finger and toenails

NowThatYoureGone · 28/04/2024 08:02

I have grandchildren
I love garden centres
Don't go clubbing
I have a massive stash of wool
I talk to my house plants
My bladder is knackered
I'm early 50s
I don't look my age, some people mistake me for mum of said grandchildren
I have funky coloured hair
I still go to heavy metal gigs
Sadly no garden for geraniums but live vicariously through friends
Bloody love life
OP, thanks for the smile, I love the way you write 🌺

Direstraightsagain · 28/04/2024 07:48

At least they didn’t say ‘miserable’ old ‘bag’
nice old lady to someone that age could be anyone 40 plus tbh, I’d be focussing on the ‘nice’ not the old

greengreyblue · 28/04/2024 07:46

@Gingerbee have you not heard that phrase before?

Gingerbee · 28/04/2024 07:20

Overheard in Waitrose.
"Your only as old as the man you feel😜
She was buying cat food at the time!

Londonrach1 · 28/04/2024 06:59

You are old but how cares and what's wrong with it. It's a privilege to grow old. I lost several friends young, some illness, some car accidents. Inbrace your maturity and make the most of it. I'm approaching 50 and love my 40s better than my 20s. I see patients in their 90s who act as if there in their 20s. Age is a number and sounds like your new neighbours like have you as a neighbour

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 28/04/2024 06:54

I am your age and my pink frilly shower cap is no longer Old Lady Chic it's just Old Lady!

I broke a bone a year ago and for the first time in A&E they did That Voice For Old Dears. When I go the doctor and they ask me what I'm doing for the rest of the day and I say "well I have to go to work now" and they look surprised. Well I may be old but it's still more than 2 years to pension age.

When I was a small child I decided that 20 is grown up, 40 is middle age and 60 is old. And I'm sticking to it!

BobnLen · 28/04/2024 06:54

ChimneyPot · 27/04/2024 23:25

Pubic hair disappears? I never knew this.
Without waxing?

Mine did from my mid 50s, also I seem to have less underarm hair and legs barely need shaving. I do have a very good head of thick greyish curly hair, no hair loss there.

I'm 66 and recently went to the library to get my older persons bus pass and have my pension now so I guess I am officially old.

sashh · 28/04/2024 06:51

SabreIsMyFave · 27/04/2024 15:15

Is talking to your cat an 'older person' thing? I have always done this. And we (me and DH and the kids) have had cats since I was around 32/33.

Same with our dogs (that we had when I was a kid!) Always talked to them. 😬 They were good listeners!😆

Not like the cats who always have that 'FUXAKE!' look on their face! 😂

Show quote history

I had a rather vocal cat, Charlie (named after the advert by previous owners) who you could actually have a conversation with.

It would go:

Yowowowoya
teally? Then what happened
yowlyowlyahhhh
Oh dear

Redsheshed · 28/04/2024 06:50

I'm 48 and the things you have said are do familiar. I was just thinking yesterday whilst walking my dogs at 6am (another sign but ive always been an early bird) that I feel like I'm 30ish in my head and I wonder if I'll always feel like this or not.
My Body aches every morning, tenna lady, I'm running on 5 hours sleep, in bed by 9, love my gardening and birds, love baking and reading novels etc but, I've got 11 and 13 year old sons and I work in a primary school as a teaching assistant so always around little ones..... who like to remind me they have grandparents younger than me 😂. Sorry to ramble just thought I'd join in but yes I know how you feel. My next door neighbour said hello Susan the other day..... Susan is 75.

Sadza · 28/04/2024 06:49

Helen mirren is 78. Just leaving that on the table.
Also lots of people on this thread with absolutely no sense of humour telling you in no uncertain terms that you’re old🤣

GoodVibesHere · 28/04/2024 06:46

Somepeoplearesnippy · 28/04/2024 03:00

Sadly it's true. We are old. I'm slim, fit and wrinkle free (thanks to Botox). I exercise most days and can do the splits.
But I'm 62, I have my old persons Oyster Card (best thing ever). I wear hearing aids. I avoid high heels. I hate bars with loud music and love to be in bed by 9pm. I am properly elderly.

Being healthy, flexible, financially secure and old is wonderful. Possibly the best phase of my life - so far.

Edited

Wow, I've always been amazed at people who can do the splits. It must be quite unusual to be able to do it at 62yrs of age, or is that my ageism making me think that way? Have you had to work hard to maintain that kind of flexibility?

Alwaysdieting · 28/04/2024 06:46

Im 69 and dont feel old but I am. I get a bit peeved when I pay at the self serve for hubbys wine and never get challenged when the girl comes over to check.
I talk to my cat and have loads of wool its normal isnt it. Embrace it I say.

Cello60 · 28/04/2024 06:41

Posithor · 27/04/2024 22:04

I was interviewing this week and a young whippersnapper used the phrase "someone of your generation probably won't be familiar with..."
I'm 37 (3/4)

Are they getting the job?

margolyes · 28/04/2024 06:27

Gorgeous thread @CleverLemonCat . I will never forget the day that my then 3yo son was terrified because we were 4wding on the beach and he kept saying" NO Chitty chitty bang bang". I also got you "in a motor car" reference.