'Life'

I'm finding that it's possible to see a lot more of the world in a very small patch of it by simply looking more closely. The same applies to hearing more of the world — less noise, more sound.

I find myself continuously constrained by family commitments every time I plan to do something for me. Yes .... still after raising 4 children to adulthood! But now and again I relish doing something on my own. For my birthday I was given an adult colouring book, and last night spent a peaceful mindless few hours colouring in an intricate picture of a dragonfly. The calmness that this induced! But I still had the glass of very good red wine beside me.

So I think I would like to at last realise inner peace in my later years although ideally it would be seeing a lot more of the world. That doesn't seem to be happening as I had hoped.

Seen on FB
" When I grow old, I don't want people thinking Oh, she's such a sweet little old lady,
I want them to think, Oh c**p what's she doing now !"

Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt. Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth

I hope no-one watches me dance

I love the Lidl text, annsixty

It sounds good to me. I'd like to carry on disgracefully happily until I'm in my 90s, then keel over with a glass of wine in my hand, sitting on a terrace overlooking the sea. I must remember the chocolate.
Someone else will have to pick up the bits of glass!

I tried the zip wire last year but fell off in the middle in a very muddy puddle, which the DGDs though was very funny.
And Auntie had a lovely time in one of those large circular rope swings - she was 93 at the time!

Anya that's one of my favourite sayings

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass....it's about learning to dance in the rain.

Also don't wait for your boat to come in go out to meet it.

That's how I try to live life.

Marmight maybe its a matter of doing what you want to do as opposed to what you think you should do. There's all this stuff about going wild and partying etc etc but that's a pressure too. You don't have to conform to traditional old lady mould or to trendy cartoon wacky mould. Eat the chocolate, drink the wine and have a think. I've discovered I don't actually like parties but I don't have to go. I enjoy chats with interesting people in quiet interesting places. I like playing with GC but am not up to rough and tumble stuff but enjoy reading endless stories to them- nobody else does , they love it- we're all happy. Since I retired I found I've got my freedom so I'm trying all sorts of things but find I didn't like many of them, mostly the things I'm supposed to do or to want to do. I'm very happy with my vol groups, watching TV (supposed to be a dreadful thing to do but I love it!) and writing my book (which I discover I adore doing- the bookworm has turned!) So its a little quiet life but its mine and I like it!
(Still fancy a decline though with two lackeys Fabrice and Anton pandering to my every whim while desperately jealous of each other. DH not keen)

Oh I do that with the gc's - nothing like getting stuck on the slide.

I meant that to Marmight.

My mum still goes on the childrens park rides if it is allowed. How about that for starters?

There is something to be said for letting loose isnt there?
Trouble is, I would have a lot of people around me, who would remind me of whatever I did!
hmm. Perhaps I need escape the confines of where I live a bit more.

I have been cogitating about my original post. I was always a bit whacky but seem to have grown up over the years. I would like to revert to whackyness again although not in a dotty, she's going senile, 'poor old Mum what shall we do with her' way. Since DH died I feel as if, like a race horse, I am at the starting gate but haven't got the oomph to trot, let alone gallop! I am ok with the chocolate in one hand and the wine in the other, it's all the in between bits

All the best ones are worth repeating, annsixty!

I always knew I was one of the invisible oldies

I'm living my life to the best of my ability, ( no one else's) to free me from the wheel of rebirth.
Deaths not to be feared it's life that's the bitch. People always telling us what is good or bad for us rather than a little of what we fancy does us good.

Reckon I'm in a terminal decline already, it started at my toes, went to feet, then my ankles. Where next?
When my hair starts falling out I'll be really worried!!

It reminded me of an anecdote in today's newspaper.
Dad is helping teenage daughter with GCSE revision when they get a text from Mum asking "What do you want from life?" which prompts a deep and meaningful few minutes' discussion before the second text arrives without the benefit of auto correct
"What do you want from Lidl?"

I have had that card sent to me in the past. I have blue tacked it to my
fridge to remind me to 'give myself a break' and that life is to be lived and if I over indulge occasionally in something then so what?

GK that's so Barbara Pym but I like it

if we are all going to live life to the full and arrive at the grave in a disreputable state, better make sure the funeral is a closed coffin affair then.

Maintaining friendships for me.

jane I agree re the medicinal benefits of alcohol. When my son's new in-laws came to visit here for the first time, I picked up that his MIL was just as nervous as I was (we had only met them once before the wedding!) so I offered to pour us each a little sherry - at 11 a.m. - using the fact that they had battled to find our house as an excuse for needing something to calm the nerves - and when she gladly accepted I knew we would be friends Neither of us drink much usually ...

annsixty LOL

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass....it's about learning to dance in the rain.

Jane that's the way.

And me.

jings - I had a glass of wine after I got the news that a friend had died. At 9.15 am. And do you know what - it was wonderful.