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Well better than I had amticipated with a house full of nine people on Christmas Day!
I guess it all really started the Friday before when I collected my 85 y/o mother from the other side of the country (a round trip of some 450 miles) so that she could spend the holiday with us. It was with a littlr trepidation as she is not only physically frail but can be, to put it politely, a little cantankerous in company.
Well Christmas Day dawned with the two of us plus Mum and Mrs DJ's son, and we had an extremely good time echanging presents - all of which worked and fitted without requiring exchange except that is for my new watch. When I pulled out the crown to adjust the time - I lterally pulled out the crown!
We were joined at around lunchtime by Mrs DJ's sister, brother-in-law and two children of 17 and 14 when we had a Christmas banquet.
The most amazing thing was that during the evening all 9 of us from 14 to 85 sat around the table in 3 teams playing Countdown. What an amazing illustartion on teamwork by an enormous age range.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
OK so there is still some physical aspect!
So yesterday I visited my optician for an eye test 6 months ahead of my regular 2-yearly appointment (well as I now get it free - why not?). I have noticed recently that my long sight has been deteriorating with some small problems getting good definition of distant vehicles when driving or being able to read TV captions. I already have a prescription for reading and computer monitor work.
Well the result was that I now apparently need 3 prescriptions. One for reading, one for intermediate screen work and one for driving!
He tried to get me to have a pair of Varifocal spectacles, but I have enough trouble with current intermediate/reading bi-focals so I have opted for another pair of the same with the new intermediate/reading prescription and a separate pair for driving. That should make it a bit safer for other road users :-)
Oh the other bit of news is that I also now qualify for an annual check as my Mother has just been diagnosed with glaucoma.
Well the result was that I now apparently need 3 prescriptions. One for reading, one for intermediate screen work and one for driving!
He tried to get me to have a pair of Varifocal spectacles, but I have enough trouble with current intermediate/reading bi-focals so I have opted for another pair of the same with the new intermediate/reading prescription and a separate pair for driving. That should make it a bit safer for other road users :-)
Oh the other bit of news is that I also now qualify for an annual check as my Mother has just been diagnosed with glaucoma.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
A lighter perspective on Age
Too much introverted thinking can be bad for you, so here is something to lighten up your day.
In Pharmacology, all drugs have two names, a trade
name and generic name. For example, the trade name of
Tylenol also has a generic name of Acetaminophen.
Aleve is also called Naproxen. Amoxil is also call
Amoxicillin and Advil is also called Ibuprofen.
The FDA has been looking for a generic name for
Viagra. After careful consideration by a team of
government experts, it recently announced that it has
settled on the generic name of Mycoxafloppin. Also
considered were Mycoxafailin, Mydixadrupin,
Mydixarizin, Dixafix, and of course, Ibepokin.
Pfizer Corp. announced today that Viagra will soon be
available in liquid form, and will be marketed by
Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a
mixer. It will now be possible for a man to literally
pour himself a stiff one. Obviously we can no longer
call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning t o
the names of "cocktails", "highballs" and just a good
old-fashioned "stiff drink". Pepsi will market the
new concoction by the name of: MOUNT & DO.
Did you also know that there is more money being spent
on breast implants and Viagra today than on
Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there
should be a large elderly population with perky boobs
and huge erections and absolutely no recollection of
what to do with them.
I do hope that last bit about expenditure on Alzheimer's isnt true.
In Pharmacology, all drugs have two names, a trade
name and generic name. For example, the trade name of
Tylenol also has a generic name of Acetaminophen.
Aleve is also called Naproxen. Amoxil is also call
Amoxicillin and Advil is also called Ibuprofen.
The FDA has been looking for a generic name for
Viagra. After careful consideration by a team of
government experts, it recently announced that it has
settled on the generic name of Mycoxafloppin. Also
considered were Mycoxafailin, Mydixadrupin,
Mydixarizin, Dixafix, and of course, Ibepokin.
Pfizer Corp. announced today that Viagra will soon be
available in liquid form, and will be marketed by
Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a
mixer. It will now be possible for a man to literally
pour himself a stiff one. Obviously we can no longer
call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning t o
the names of "cocktails", "highballs" and just a good
old-fashioned "stiff drink". Pepsi will market the
new concoction by the name of: MOUNT & DO.
Did you also know that there is more money being spent
on breast implants and Viagra today than on
Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there
should be a large elderly population with perky boobs
and huge erections and absolutely no recollection of
what to do with them.
I do hope that last bit about expenditure on Alzheimer's isnt true.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Age benefits
What a coincidence!
After my first post on this age related topic, suddenly two additional age advantages have arrived in my life.
Firstly I am now in receipt (for the first time) of my government grant "Winter Fuel Allowance" of £200 to allow me to keep warm this winter. Now I sort of feel embarrassed to take this as I am still in full employment with an above average income and really am not in need of any 'charitable' donations for keeping warm. However my friends tell me "you have paid enough taxes so far in your life - so take it".
Secondly, I telephoned my optician yesterday to arrange a bi-annual sight test and was told that as I am now over 60 I do not have to pay for it.
This is in addition to the fact that I already receive free medical prescriptions and I am eligible for a concessionary bus pass!
So to my original hypothesis that age is in the mind, I am really glad I feel that way because with all this emphasis by the state on how I now need to benefit from handouts because I am old, I could easily get very depressed.
After my first post on this age related topic, suddenly two additional age advantages have arrived in my life.
Firstly I am now in receipt (for the first time) of my government grant "Winter Fuel Allowance" of £200 to allow me to keep warm this winter. Now I sort of feel embarrassed to take this as I am still in full employment with an above average income and really am not in need of any 'charitable' donations for keeping warm. However my friends tell me "you have paid enough taxes so far in your life - so take it".
Secondly, I telephoned my optician yesterday to arrange a bi-annual sight test and was told that as I am now over 60 I do not have to pay for it.
This is in addition to the fact that I already receive free medical prescriptions and I am eligible for a concessionary bus pass!
So to my original hypothesis that age is in the mind, I am really glad I feel that way because with all this emphasis by the state on how I now need to benefit from handouts because I am old, I could easily get very depressed.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
I have succumbed to the call to Blog!
I have enjoyed subscribing to and reading other folk's blogs for some time now but have never felt the urge to write one. However that has changed after a discussion this week so let's see if this is a one off or perhaps I will be able to keep it up. (Perhaps I should re-phrase that on a blog about age :-) )
So I was having a discussion with a colleague who has just reached the ripe old age of 31! She told me that she was particularly uncomfortable about being 31. I thought she said it was bad enough last year when she reached 30.
So that got me thinking, why should she be so upset about attaining 31 when I feel quite comfortable about having reached my 60th this year? I can only put it down to purely being a state of mind in which you view life and its opportunities.
I am comfortable with where I am on account of being clear about what it is I want and need out of life, about what I have under my belt in terms of experience that enables me to tackle life in a pragmattic way and of course in being comfortable about not wanting to over-achieve against my capabilities. I suppose alongside that is understanding what my capabilities are.
Even so I am not trying to convey that I have in any way given up.
- I still want to continue working
- I have just learnt for the first time to ride a motorcycle and am now the proud owner of a 850cc machine.
- I have just bought a new car - 230bhp Mazda RX8
- I work out regualrly 4 to 5 times a week, play golf and run the occasional charity race
So it must be in the mind. - How do I persuade my colleague that 30 is a great threshold?
So I was having a discussion with a colleague who has just reached the ripe old age of 31! She told me that she was particularly uncomfortable about being 31. I thought she said it was bad enough last year when she reached 30.
So that got me thinking, why should she be so upset about attaining 31 when I feel quite comfortable about having reached my 60th this year? I can only put it down to purely being a state of mind in which you view life and its opportunities.
I am comfortable with where I am on account of being clear about what it is I want and need out of life, about what I have under my belt in terms of experience that enables me to tackle life in a pragmattic way and of course in being comfortable about not wanting to over-achieve against my capabilities. I suppose alongside that is understanding what my capabilities are.
Even so I am not trying to convey that I have in any way given up.
- I still want to continue working
- I have just learnt for the first time to ride a motorcycle and am now the proud owner of a 850cc machine.
- I have just bought a new car - 230bhp Mazda RX8
- I work out regualrly 4 to 5 times a week, play golf and run the occasional charity race
So it must be in the mind. - How do I persuade my colleague that 30 is a great threshold?
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