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Original poster

To ask how you know you're old? (Lighthearted)

297 replies

movingonok · 16/09/2024 13:13

A friend's niece with the surname Taylor is having a daughter and considering the name Elizabeth. I mumbled about how it's a lovely name and were they a fan? Silence. Explained more about Elizabeth Taylor and met with blanks. They didn't know what I was on about.

I'm now clearly old.

OP posts:
Thursa · 19/09/2024 03:50

coxesorangepippin · 19/09/2024 02:29

Discovered another sign today.
Borrowed 5 books from the library, after reading the blurbs.

Started reading, & realised I've read THREE of them before - one only 7 months ago

^

Phew 😅

My mum used to put a tiny mark in the back of the books she borrowed so she didn’t get them again. After looking for books for her when she was ill, she wasn’t the only one…

SleepQuest33 · 19/09/2024 06:51

For me, it was a new colleague joining our team. He’s an apprentice and had just left school, I have a son around his age, made me realise I could easily be this colleague’s mum!!!!

up until recently any young colleagues joining were just about old enough, I couldn’t have given birth to them (unless teenage pregnancy). Not this time. Can’t get over the shock!

Rosscameasdoody · 19/09/2024 08:24

I frequently turn the place upside down looking for my glasses, only to find they’re on my head !!

oneeggisunoeuf · 19/09/2024 09:09

@Over71 I'm just retired from libraries and we had several customers who had little notebooks where they kept a note of books they'd borrowed precisely for this reason! Or when they were borrowing books would ask if they had taken them out before. I've got quite a way through a book before realising I've already read it!

Paisleydad · 19/09/2024 11:39

(Mostly) men.

When you are the first to notice that it's raining. Unless you are wearing a hat.

ForTheLoveOfJackDaniels · 19/09/2024 12:13

Rosscameasdoody · 18/09/2024 11:59

A little more serious note, but relevant I think. Being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year in my mid sixties. Although the prognosis is good it really pulled me up and made me feel my mortality. Up until that point I’d been jogging along, as you do, until the news made me realise that actually, no, I’m not going to live for ever, but hoping that this isn’t going to be what finishes me off !!

I'm really sorry to hear your news and glad to hear that the prognosis is positive for you Flowers

You are absolutely right - I recently had an accident. It was serious, but could have very easily been so much worse. Like you, it has completely pulled my own mortality into focus! Feel quite relieved to be around and 'old' 🙂

YellowphantGrey · 19/09/2024 12:24

A new Mom came to look round my nursery for their child. I happened to be there. I used to look after the mother as a baby, I'm only 43

And having to scroll for ages to find my year of birth on drop down menus

I have younger people I employ, in their mid to late twenties who've no idea what a Walkman is and an apprentice who doesn't know what an IPod is

YellowphantGrey · 19/09/2024 12:27

Over71 · 18/09/2024 15:55

Discovered another sign today.
Borrowed 5 books from the library, after reading the blurbs.

Started reading, & realised I've read THREE of them before - one only 7 months ago.

This happens to me! But in my/our defence, it doesn't help when publishers change the covers!

I use a reading app now to track my books and it creates monthly graphs and charts which are satisfying

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 19/09/2024 14:59

When I was 18 I became friends with someone who was 21 and had just had a baby. I looked up friend on FB the other day and that baby is now a grandmother! That really did give me pause... For comparison, my own twins are 30.

Nanny0gg · 19/09/2024 16:06

LaRosbif · 16/09/2024 16:16

I weighed some pasta for dinner last night and found the scales in the fridge this morning. 😳

😂😂

Nanny0gg · 19/09/2024 16:08

EdithGrantham · 16/09/2024 16:37

I'm a teacher and we did a lesson on the history of information technology, I was telling the children about how it used to be that you couldn't be on the phone and the internet at the same time. I also played them a video of the dial-up connection noise, the TA in my class had no idea what the noise was.

I also look forward to my cup of decaf tea every evening after DD has gone to bed 😆

They'd faint at the thought of a computer the size of their house then

Ti7ch · 19/09/2024 16:13

Watching a programme only to get part way through and realising you watched it a few days ago

Nanny0gg · 19/09/2024 16:17

I'm loving this thread - I remember it all...

My kids could never believe that not only did we only have ONE phone, that sat in the hall, of all places and that we actually shared the line so that we couldn't always use it when we wanted (and the neighbours could listen in)

And that was considered posh

Iremembermnsecretsanta · 19/09/2024 16:42

My grandson asked me if people had tails when I was young …..

Petitchat · 19/09/2024 16:45

coldcallerbaiter · 16/09/2024 13:15

I do not know the definition of old but to me it is when you get your pension. Before that you are middle age.

You do need to point out the name to them is famous, and it will get comments for years to come.

I guess we were young once. I remember when someone old explained about no heating in bedrooms and coats on the bed. I thought that was terrible, but that was the norm.

Edited

And on extra cold nights, woolly hats and gloves ....
Ice on the insides of the windows.

Yep, I'm old

cortex10 · 19/09/2024 17:19

Mid sixties (and retiring at last next week - hurrah). Noticed a few missed calls from DS 29 yesterday evening (and he'd tried the landline). He sometimes calls for a chat while travelling home from work. I'd been engrossed in the latest episode of Slow Horses - when I did call him back the first thing he said was that he'd been worried I'd 'had a fall' - I think he was joking...

BabyOwlinthePlumeria · 19/09/2024 17:24

I tried to sneak past the children while they were occupied in the living room and both my knees popped and gave me away.

OnlyHerefortheBiscuits · 19/09/2024 19:27

I regularly respond to the call of nature only to find it was the most pointless wee ever.

I think that means I'm getting old...

Original poster
movingonok · 19/09/2024 20:04

Iremembermnsecretsanta · 19/09/2024 16:42

My grandson asked me if people had tails when I was young …..

That is equally sweet and frightening

OP posts:
Thevelvelletes · 19/09/2024 20:12

movingonok · 19/09/2024 20:04

That is equally sweet and frightening

Show quote history

No but quite a few people have them now

Compash · 19/09/2024 20:18

DonnaSummet · 18/09/2024 22:57

I can only sleep in my own bed now with my very naked pillows. Long gone are the days of crashing on random sofas and kitchen floors after wild parties 🤪**

I've taken my own pillow on trips before (it does help)... ☺️

Compash · 19/09/2024 20:19

Iremembermnsecretsanta · 19/09/2024 16:42

My grandson asked me if people had tails when I was young …..

I hope you said Yes.

sesquipedalian · 19/09/2024 20:26

The fact that my son will be forty next year….

Compash · 19/09/2024 20:42

Rosscameasdoody · 18/09/2024 11:59

A little more serious note, but relevant I think. Being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year in my mid sixties. Although the prognosis is good it really pulled me up and made me feel my mortality. Up until that point I’d been jogging along, as you do, until the news made me realise that actually, no, I’m not going to live for ever, but hoping that this isn’t going to be what finishes me off !!

I know! Had my bout at 52 and it brought me up sharp. I think the psychological side of it is the worst thing, and I've had permanent changes to my health and energy; but I'm also trying to use it to remember to live in the moment and be grateful for what I do have.

All the best with your treatment! 🤗

StyleSiren · 19/09/2024 21:30

A colleague in her early 60s told me her grandchildren aged 6 and 7 had asked if she was going to die soon.