I feel old.

This is me at the bottom of the tower at Dover Castlr that my daughter encouraged me to climb last week - not too bad at 86 - if I've discovered how to add the photo!!!

I didn't give much thought to getting old. That was for other people. Now I'm there I realise how treacherous it is. But I've given up complaining. Listeners either get bored or feel helpless to change things. Better to not subject them to it.

At the moment I feel the same. We have just got back from a holiday abroad and on the first day there I lost my purse with all our money in as we had just arrived. I felt very vulnerable as I could not speak the language and to be honest no one was interested. We were in a private let so there was no rep etc to help and the local police only issue parking tickets we had a 30 minute bus ride to the next town if we wanted a crime number for insurance purposes. As I had cancelled my card which had taken one and a half hours to do I decided not to bother and luckily our family sent some money by Western Union. To top it off when returning to the UK with Ryanair we where told we had only paid for our case on the outward journey and we had to pay 45 euros. The panic I felt I have never experienced before as I was always in control but it as made me realise I am old now and vulnerable.

I am coming up to my 60th birthday and in many ways am finding life a little bit more physically onerous. My elbows are agonising at times and I get worn out by activity. My eyesight is becoming pooper by the day. Nevertheless, there are upsides too. I no longer feel the tense, body-breaking stiffness that the stress from teaching gave me. I no longer wake in the night feeling I am going to snap in two. My sleep is better and more relaxed and it is a luxury to have an upright ten minute afternoon nap. I can exercise more and I feel generally very healthy. I also eat better than I did when working.

I have given in and bought a 4 wheeled rollators. With one knee replacement and one hip replacement and the other hip 'going' and spine crumbling I was really just waffling unsteadily around. Didn't want to give in but so glad I did. Now I can walk quite a distance upright, no pain, and visit places I haven't got to in months.

My hand of horror

If I pinch the skin on the back of my hands it stays pinched -there is no elasticity whatsoever ? I also have a lot of age spots due to being out in the sun every chance I get. Never have mastered the photo thing but if I had you would see hands that have been grubbing around in the garden. Just about to have a bath.

I have just had my 70th and several people have been kind enough to say I look younger than that. I cover up the wrinkley skin on the top of my arms and try to disguise the many other faults.
I am lucky to be happily married (second time and to a man seven years younger than I). I try not to think about age and as I have cataracts, I think I look pretty good when I look in the mirror.

Feeling old ? How did whispering Bob harris reach his 70th birthday today? He is just a slip of a lad , where does the time go ?

One of my GSs asked 'Why are your hands like that, Granny?' What could I say? 'Because I'm quite old.'

Yess! Someone else with the same funny finger. At least you can't see the veins on yours Margsus. Can on mine. Not a fantastic look.

Oh dear I never realised that my hands were that wrinkly!!!!

Here's my hand with wonky index finger - very useful if I want to point to the right...

My fingernails have been gardening!

I hope not Galen. I'd know about it wouldn't I?

Diy except when I'm on a cruise. Don't use hand cream either

Well I tried to paste my pic of my ancient hand but can't seem to get it in.
I selected choose file, chose the pic from gallery, and a thumbnail of the pic came up. But didn't seem to "migrate". What should I do? I'm using an iPad.

bartonlady, I think I have seen several threads on arthritis on this forum, if that is what you think it might be.

Yes, I just slapped on some Rimmel one coat varnish.

wot - you have lovely nails. Do you do them yourself?

Well, that looks young to me Galen!

My hand for what it's worth

Ooh, yes, all makes sense now, Galen!

jing have you got rheumatoid arthritis?
wot MOJ= ministry of justice! That lot which says ageism is illegal.

I think your hands look elegant, jings