Alright, alright, I get it, it’s just a number. Age I mean. According to a report by the BBC some years back, growing old is great. Apparently, you get fewer colds, allergies decline (I beg to differ), have better sex (had to gag hubby – oh not in that way though), cleverer (if only I could remember) fewer migraines and less sweaty (hubby begs to differ).

If you, like me, read the above statement and thought ‘what a load of bunkum’ then read on.

I googled ‘what is positive about getting older’ the answer came back as a greater sense of acceptance of self and of others, and older adults are generally happier and more mentally stable. Well, come meet some of the people I know, hubby would happily agree that I am rather maladjusted these days!

The term ‘number’ is quite apt, I now count my teeth, just to make sure another one hasn’t escaped. I dread to think how many hairs I lose every day and how I still have any left on my head, mind you hubby wonders how they are dropping from his nogging and appearing through his nose and ears! Counting my weekly weight gain keeps me busy. Keeping count of the coffers doesn’t take long at all, although I have lost count of the numerous x-rays I’ve now had, it saves on buying Christmas lights as I now have a ‘glow’ about me. Counting all the meds every day I take fills my day quite a bit I have to say and counting the new bruises on my arms, just walking past every door handle fills me with dread and have to make sure my arms are kept by my side.

Nearing the dreaded 70 is something that I am not looking forward to, I have to be honest. To bend down weeding in the garden is one thing, but of course getting back up is a different story. Realising that twenty years ago everything was pert, looking up so to speak, but now……..

The bible states grey hair is a crown of glory – really! Allegedly the older we get comes with wisdom and understanding – pah my mental capacity is quickly diminishing that’s for sure. Well, the saying goes ‘growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional’ and of course my favourite of all time ‘age isn’t a number, it’s an attitude’. I now seem to be turning into Scrooge with his infamous ‘bah humbug’.