To wonder how you recognise you're getting older

[clearlyaplasticgnome]

I hate having to go out in the evenings
I love listening to Radio 4
I dream of retirement and moving to a nice village beside the sea (never going to happen!)

I'm shocked when I think back to my childhood and realise that for the adults at the time WW2 was a very recent memory.

Having to eat half as much and work twice as hard to keep your weight in check.

Gone are the days when a typical day's eating was something like four slices of toast for breakfast, something with chips for lunch and pizza and garlic bread for dinner. Followed by copious snacks during the evening 'workout' of lolling around on the sofa.

Not mention the old 'I can't digest that anymore' whine to yourself

I can no longer sustain a pregnancy sadly and my eyes are shockingly lined and hooded.

When you go out for a meal with your friends and everyone puts on reading glasses to see the menu properly, before discussing their ailing parents and children's careers or forthcoming weddings.

I told a neighbours cat to "shoo" and then realised I had said shoo.

"Enjoying the garden. I planted up hanging baskets this year and I'm quite proud of them. Never been interested before."
^
This-
I used to spend my spare money on shoes/make up clothes/going out- now its garden furniture and plants! I totally negletted the garden, but after spending some long needed time & money doing it up- Im hooked- Of course the knees creak when I get up after weeding & planting etc!!!

I'mNameChangey

That make up thing happened to me in the early hours of this morning.

I'd gone to bed in full slap after a night out and when I looked in the mirror I literally recoiled.

I looked like Heath Ledger's joker. It wasn't smudged, but my sleep-face with all its frowny wrinkles, plus eye makeup and red lipstick was revolting.

I've already had to give up any remotely shiny makeup. Now do I have to go without??

Not getting the point of the whole shopping in the dark/blaring loud music experience that is Hollister. I totally embarrassed DD by getting my iPhone torch out in there a little while ago.

Not being able to wear heels - I used to bomb around the London Underground in my 4 inch heels, they're strictly car to bar wear these days.

Preferring proper hankies to tissues

Having no idea what 13 year old DD is talking about half the time and making her give me a list of the acronyms she uses so I can decipher her texts

*Not being able to wear heels - I used to bomb around the London Underground in my 4 inch heels, they're strictly car to bar wear these days.
*

Yes. Yes, yes.

Bloody awful. So many heels under the bed, so much pain.

Odd Boots exactly. When did the cold war become history?

When your arms just aren't long enough anymore to read the side of a packet

When you have O levels

When your new warmest jumper is from the Edinburgh Woollen Mill oh yes it is

When you open the curtains in the morning and think "it's a good day for drying washing today"
And when you enjoy listening to talk shows on the radio.

When you start to think to yourself about some item 'Oh - that'll be comfy'.

Comfy? There was a day once when I wouldn't have recognized that the concept even existed.

Looking at my hands and thinking, god, they look old, grey, lined, mottled,dry and wizzened (and remembering when they were wrinkle-free, plump, golden and glowing). Same with the face. It's now hairy, mottled, lined, saggy where once it was plump, glowing, golden, smooth, even-toned...)

Feeling exhausted no matter how much sleep I get. Feeling exhausted generally. Enjoying sitting watching the birds, enjoying the quiet on a Friday night and looking forward to a book and bed on Saturday night, despite offers to go out.

Listening to Radio 4, Radio 3 and Classic FM. National Trust and Landmark Trust Memberships. Enjoying a quiet evening stroll instead of going to the pub.

i've started sitting down to put my socks on.
I only like pubs where i can get a table and the music isnt too loud.
I choose cars based on safety features and boot space.
My choice in underwear has moved from looks good to 'that looks comfy'

There are suddenly a lot of young people around, who are adults and have cars and jobs etc. despite all looking fresh-faced.

This happens as you reach 40. You didn't notice them when you were 30, because they were mostly children and in school, and so just not on your radar.

Lots of them are your children's teachers. It totally scrambles my brain that DD is being taught by someone who was a child when she was born.

When I applied for a bus pass!

When my oldest nephew turned 40!

When I started preferring a nice cuppa to a glass of wine!

My ideal night in used to involve a bunch of friends, loud music and a selection of drinking games.

Now...on a Friday night I cannot wait to get home, open the wine and catch up on Grand Designs. Then at bedtime I tune into Radio 4 and fall asleep to The Shipping Forecast

Looking all my lovely high heeled shoes/strappy sandals/vertiginous boots from 2005 - 2010 when I last went 'out out' and realising I'll probably never wear them again as my feet hurt (bunions and Mortons Neuroma) and I prefer comfort over glamour. Have £1,000 worth stashed in various cabinets and wardrobes. Very sad that that part of my life is now over but it was great while it lasted.

When you suddenly realise that the couple you've just met, and who you're getting on really well with, are younger than your children. And that they know it.

When you realise that however nifty you are on your laptop and mobile phone you're never ever going to catch up with the latest gadgets.

The hair thing

And for all those pp who talked about WWII - I was actually born IN IT!

(My mother was horrified when she became the mother of an OAP)

So many of these. Facing the big 50 this year so was obviously born only 20 years after end of WW2. Can no longer drink alcohol at lunch time without wanting to sleep all afternoon.

DH and I love our Friday evenings pottering round the kitchen cooking dinner, having a glass of wine and listening to The Archers, Front Row and any questions.

Like a visit to a garden centre or a stately home, and hate loud music in pubs and shops.

Am used to being completely ignored by most people.

Never ever get 'dressed up' to go out.

Love flat heeled shoes, though to be honest have never really worn heels.

Don't suffer from angst, don't care what I look like and don't care what most people think of me - some of the best things about growing older and very liberating.

Don't feel I'm missing out by not doing social media.

Being generally very content with my lot and not missing the horrendous highs and lows of youth.

Looking at some elasticated-waist navy slacks in Marks and Sparks and thinking "Mmm - they're nice, I'll have those - now, where are the cardigans?"

Needing to wear your reading glasses to put your eye make-up on.

When you realise that your boss was born the year after you got your first job.

Loads already mentioned.

Realising that the next big physical event for me will be the menopause, and that I probably won't hold another tiny baby until I'm a grandmother.

Yes to the make-up issue. Less is definitely more now because it just seems to emphasise my wrinkles "fine lines".

Having to use a magnifying mirror to put make-up on, which just makes the wrinkles, I mean "fine lines", look 10 times worse than they are.

My hands are crepey and dry looking, especially when I put high SPF sunscreen on them to stop them getting worse.

I've developed a single bristle on my chin that wasn't there a couple of years ago and I have a couple of those rough pigmented spots on my back that "old people" collect. And a skin tag. It'll be warts next.

Don't suffer from angst, don't care what I look like and don't care what most people think of me - some of the best things about growing older and very liberating

So true Cakesbydelia. Very liberating not being as self-conscious as I was in my youth.