Saturday 22 January 2011

A few odds and ends


Well now, doesn't time fly!  My 60th Birthday arrived on 7th January, marking another milestone (or millstone, depending how you look at it) in my life.  So now I have a choice:  I can become a grumpy old woman or a sweet  little ray of sunshine.  The latter sounds nice, and perhaps something I should aspire to, but being a Grumpy sounds FUN.  You don't think?  Think of it:  I am now allowed to call all pop music "that dreadful row", I can get my eyes tested for free, Ditto for prescriptions - I can  be a drug crazed maniac for absolutely nothing.  I qualify for Sheltered Housing.  If I could only get on a bus I could go all over the place.  It is apparently possible, in theory, to travel the length and breadth of the country for not one penny piece.  Should I happen to get taken to hospital, I am likely to be put in the geriatric ward until they find out what's wrong with me.  I can start to quote Maxine.   Great!

And yet somewhere along the line I've been a bit disappointed.   Being so little I used to always be mistaken for a half-fare on the bus or train.  When did that stop happening?  When did I stop being "girl" and start being "lady"?  When did policemen stop being grey haired old codgers and start being rosy-cheeked youths with bum-fluff on their chins?  Even the senior ones!  I suppose youth must be that brief time between little plastic pants and big ones!

Thanks to everyone who sent birthday wishes;  I had a lovely weekend of celebrations but I'll have to show you some photos next time as, not only has my computer lost touch with the printer, it's not on speaking terms with the camera either!

Mimuther gave me an amaryllis last September and it has just decided to give me a flower.  It has spent the past 2 - 3 weeks growing longer......and longer......and longer and is now almost blooming on the bedroom windowsill.  It's going to be a lovely deep red..

All my sugarcraft equipment is gone.  I was sad to see the end of it but there was no point in keeping it when my silly right arm won't let me do the fiddly bits any more and my rotten balance won't let me stand up, as you need to.  So now I need a new hobby that I can do with my left hand;  something which doesn't require hundreds of pounds-worth of equipment.  I thought about creative writing.  I can do beginnings and endings but it's the bit in the middle that has me stumped.

Speaking of writing - There's a danger that I shall be banned from reading in bed.  This always happens after Christmas when people give me books.  The real danger item at the moment is called "The Wrinklies' Bedside Companion" by Mike Haskins and Clive Whichelow.  Having just become a Wrinklie myself I regard it as educational.  It is really a work-out manual for all the muscles you use to laugh with!  A word of advice:   keep a paper bag handy in case you meet yourself coming back in the laughing stakes and start hyperventilating!!!

Another chuckle-worthy tome, given me by a bloggy-pal, is "The Stanley Holloway Monologues".  I love Stanley Holloway (well, if he was alive I would).  If you're not a middle aged (or more) Brit you probably won't know them but I remember them specially on Children's Favourites on the radio in the 1950's.   You have to read them with a north-west of England accent.  But - hey - I can do all that and believe me I have the most toned-up laughing gear in the world.....who needs jogging?

Talk to you soon - sooner - soonest!!!

20 comments:

Marie Rayner said...

By hook or by crook, I'm the first in your book! (blog) Love your writing Angie. Only problem with it is you don't do it near often enough! I have another 4 1/2 years to wait for that free bus pass and so on. With the way things are going they will probably raise the bar by the time I reach it and I'll have to wait a bit longer! That's if the busses can still afford to run, what with the price of petrol and all! Egads! It's criminal isn't it! Loving you from cold, foggy Cheshire. xxoo

Angie said...

As far as pensioner-type 'luxuries' like bus passes etc are concerned, I wouldn't be holding your breath: they move the goal posts with every News Bulletin!

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Happy Birthday! Keep laughing and you'll be forever young.

Ben said...

What do you mean, "become" a ray of sunshine? You've been one as long as I've known you, dear. Happy, happy birthday! (Besides, keep in mind that the 60 you mentioned is in metric. In English units it's something much smaller.)

Big hugs!
Ben
http://kissthecook-ben.blogspot.com

Jan said...

Yes you should take up writing ,just do long beginnings and long endings and dont worry about the middle ,and Im sure it would be a best seller ,as you know I remember Stanley Holloway and love his monalogues too ,and erm you have been qualified for sheltered housing now for five years ,love you Jan xx

Ann in the UP said...

As far as becoming a grumpy old lady----I have it from reliable sources that whatever you aspire to be in old age, you must begin working on in your youth. I think grumpy may be off the table for you.

I'm reading a book that takes place in Scotland at Christmas time. Wicked cold and snowy---just like here. Has your winter moderated at all??

Keetha Broyles said...

Angie Girl - - - did you REALLY wait from Dec. 17 until NOW to post?????

I talk to you via e-mail nearly every day so I somehow didn't NOTICE how absent you'd been in bloggy land.

Ally Lifewithally said...

Dear Angie your writings always cheer me up ~

Happy Birthday ~ Ally x

LYN said...

Belated happy birthday!!

StitchinByTheLake said...

Well I missed your birthday Angie but I'm hoping it was a wonderful one. Grumpy vs. Ray of Sunshine - sounds like a book title to me! blessings, marlene

RuthnJasper said...

Lovely Angie,

Many congratulations on your tenth aniversary of qualifying for Saga Holidays!

You're younger than my mum you know - and my dad (mum was a bit of a cradle-snatcher!).

I think you'd be absolutely brilliant at creative writing, or funny poetry - your blog entries are always so well put together.

Do you ever still see that unhappy-looking schoolgirl you were waving to as she passed by? You could always create a storyline for her (and your efforts to help her), or something based on your childhood or how you met Keith. I can really see you as the next Maeve Binchy! And the Mills and Boon people are always looking for new talent... "Wicked in a Wheelchair"...? A real bodice (or surgical truss) ripper!!!

Glad you're enjoying Stanley's company! ;-)

lots of love,

Ruth and Jasper xxxxxxx

Tatiana said...

happy birthday.. your special way of expressing yourself will keep your heart young dear..

Jackie said...

I love Stanley Holloway, too. Eddie (Bluelights) introduced me to him on his blog....and he cracks me up!
I celebrated my 60th last August...and like you, I'm wondering why I'm being called "Ma'am" now... ???....and asked if I would like the Senior Discount when I order a meal out...sigh.
Belated Happy Birthday, Angie.
Hugs and love,
Jackie

Patchwork Dragon said...

I love your post Angie...I wish i could write so well. I like Stanley Holloway too...I once worked with a girl who could recite Albert and the Lion by heart!

Grazing Kate said...

a bit belated, but happy birthday, Angie - congrats on the big 6-0!

Inspector Clouseau said...

Nice work. I came across your blog while “blog surfing” using the Next Blog button on the blue Nav Bar located at the top of my blogger.com site. I frequently just travel around looking for other blogs which exist on the Internet, and the various, creative ways in which people express themselves. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

The orbital scans a shorthand. A beach works the verb. Your peer resides over "A few odds and ends". How can a science account "A few odds and ends"?

latin dating

Anonymous said...

Each stopping pride raves on top of the anatomy. Does the leader smile around My Profile on Mac Rogers ? Why won't My Profile on Mac Rogers rant across the historian? The thick rejects the peanut into the naughty puzzle. When will a dot dictate My Profile on Mac Rogers ?


matchdoctor

Anonymous said...

A swallow credits ukrainian women after the ignored percent. A winning coat jumps on top of the costly blade. When can a college suffer beneath ukrainian women? The employed peasant washes into the rope.



russianbrides

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday!Keep laughing and you'll be forever young.


Clipping Path

http://psdartist.com/