to not be able to watch 56 up withoit sobbing?

[StealthPolarBear]

Life just sems so hard when you lay it bare like that, and all the clips are interspersed with her as a child, or her kids

When is/was 56 Up on?

On 4 now.

What a hard time she's had, especially of late. But a new baby in her life is lovely, sad about granddad though

Nick's slightly annoying isn't he? I remember thinking this before. His wife looks a bit fed up seven years on.

I can't watch it. It's just so sad looking at the clips of them as young children filled with hope and dreams.

And then life happens.

Yes Fg. Even the scientist guy, was saying he wanted to be famous for his work rather than this. None of them seem properly happy. Is this what life and compromise after compromise does to you?
Think I may be having an early mid life crisis

Me either. It's seeing them so full of hope as children. Some of them seem to have such sad lives, especially Jackie? Who was on first. But then it might not feel like that on the inside. Wonder how my life would look on 7 up?

Ok the walking with the dogs clip was nice

Susie seems happy.

That's the worry hw. It's almost like you think you're happy as longas you don't think too hard about it.

I just see it as a pretty decent snapshot of how life can throw different things at people from all kinds of backgrounds.

I feel the same way looking at pictures of my parents as children Tbh

I can't watch this. But then I found myself sobbing at a 1950s photograph of an unknown-to-me little girl aged around 9 or 10. She was staring at the camera with such youthful optimism and hope and joy. Then I did some mental maths and worked out she would be aged around 70 odd now and that her life must be nearly over (if it isn't already). And then I felt sad that she would never be that little hopeful girl again.

And then I mentally kicked myself - midlife crisis much??

She reminds me of Sheila Hancock.

There was a thread on another forum I frequent, documenting different posters and what things were like at 7, 14, 21 etc. It made very interesting reading. Most of us were happy at 7, full of angst and misery at 14, and things were all a bit crap until 40s when people started saying they felt more settled and content.

Not sure whether that's because your expectations become more realistic as you get old or if people have found their niche in the world by 40ish.

Well I'm 32 and feel quite happy now. But if I was watching myself, i'd see the mundanity. And the lines found my eyes

I avoid this show because I'll be 56 this year, and I did follow it for a while, when I was in the country.
It's sad because they all had such hopes and dreams, but we all do at that age.
Life has thrown a lot of shit my way, but lots of good things too.
If I was to be asked I would say I'm generally content, the 7 up is just life in a microcosm, we only see brief glimpses.

I like these two talking to each other. They haven't done this before.

She should be on the young ones :o

There's nothing wrong with a bit of mundanity.

I'm 42 and have never felt happier.

Everyone's life has ups and downs. Children are just so optimistic but when you've got it all laid out in front of you such as on this programme, then it's hard to not focus on where it went wrong rather than where it went right.

SPB I agree. I remember looking at some old black and white photos of my mum when she was about 6 years old at my grandma's house a few years ago. I just remember thinking how that young smiling girl had the whole world in front of her. She was my grandma's only child and so held all the hopes and dreams of loving parents too.

By 56 she'd been divorced twice, disabled in a car accident, working in a job she tolerated rather than the career she loved (cut short due to accident), lost her father whilst pregnant, became hardened against the world and had poor relationships with her children (my brother and I) and her wider family as a result.

A further 6 years on, her mother is now also gone and her choices have led to her being completely isolated from her remaining family. Her choices, but I still think back to those photos of a small girl with ribbons in her hair and she has had some great and happy times in her life, but where she is now is certainly not where that little girl was supposed to be.

I wish they stop showing the black and white pictures. Those pictures of him running up the hill as a child and as an adult have me in tears

I have to admit I was never really 'happy' until I hit 40. The last 16 years have been wonderful just bringing up my family, having a low-paid but satifying job and living in a lovely community.

Oh I have a feeling this int going to be good :(

He only sees 3 of his kids :(
And is married to vienetta

Still has that scar, same as the little kid