I was speechless!

Phoenix, love your style.
Brian.

Yes I too think most people are just being kind and I take comments about age with a pinch of salt. It's how you feel yourself that counts. This year I went indoor sky diving with my family. One DS, two partners and a DGD would not do it as they were scared. I was allowed to 'fly high' because I was better at it than my other two DSs. I was hardly smug at all, honestly!

I admit to being more careful these days when out walking alone, climbing stiles, walls, walking on slippery paths but that to me is just common sense as I know I won't heal as quickly after injury and certainly don't want the pain. I am 70.

My 5 year old DGD says I am 'pretty, even if my face is cracked!' I guess she sees the 18 year old inner me!

VIOLETTE Simon Cowell ...'Did he fall or was he pushed'? I saw the X Factor (briefly) this week as my DGS was watching. No, I think he threw himself!!

BB

Phoenix Thank you for that - so funny. Some people are just natural "foot in mouth" people aren't they?!

Having just spent the last ten days with DD I am not quite sure how I feel but certainly I suddenly feel very old. She said I must go out with her more often as she gets such good service when I am with her as people are so kind when they see me - and there was me who just thought people were lovely if you smiled a lot and were nice!

I remember years ago, at the time of life when to me someone of 76 was really old, my friend said to me that she was only wrinkly on the outside and inside she was still only 16. I never forgot it but I understand it so much better

When we had the front of our house landscaped, the builder recommended we dispense with wide steps in favour of a slope, down to the front door. His reason being we might soon be too old to manage steps. DH and I were then in our early 60s.
The fact that a slope , on a frosty day, would have resembled a ski-slope, seemed to pass him by. If the front door was open we would have been straight through the house and down the garden

My mother was told by a young police constable that people of her age should not be driving (she was in her late 50s and holding down a job as a full time professional tennis coach as well as being a district councillor with an Advanced Motorist's certificate). Needless to say my mother complained and got a home visit from a vastly superior 'boy in blue' apologising profusely. I still have a copy of her letter to the Chief Constable!!!!

Like Merlot we also know somebody who sadly died from a fall on the stairs, and yes, of course, it can happen at any age.
I think your decorator was pointing it out in a kindly meant way Phoenix but I would have felt livid too! ?

My DS1 (45) fell downstairs during the night at his home. An ambulance was called but on admittance to hospital no cause or damage, could be established. However his driving license was withdrawn for 6 months before he could be declared risk free of a possible black-out. The results were far reaching, job, young family,leisure activities etc all compromised, even the family driving holiday cancelled.
Although I have been entertained by your story Phoenix ,and the responses, falls on stairs can have more than physical consequences.

A very thoughtful response, Gmelon. I think we should always take care to understand the motives of others and how we are perceived. They may be misguided but are kindly meant and should be accepted graciously. What is the age/looks cut of point for accepting assistance? How are they to know. When you are twenty, forty can appear ancient!

The words " at your age" offensive yes/maybe. Or should we just sigh and be amused that these younger folks have it all to come. Let them have their innocence, particularly the young men who have never yet experienced vulnerability.
As for the tangent about being offered help. I am constantly reassured and gladdened by the kindness of those strangers who offer me help. I spend much of my time in a wheelchair and the generosity and responsibility to me and others that exists in the hearts of people is a blessing. How can it be an insult? As for hitting with brollies and giving them a mouthful- it's you that is being rude and over the top.

Its not the danger of taking a tumble, quite possible at any age, as Baggs has sagely pointed out. I would imagine it was the at your age, that were the killer words. Which is what they would have been for me, I would have slaughtered the man, possibly by pushing him down said stairs {grin}.

At least we have staircases that are so obviously likely to be dangerous that everyone takes great care walking up and down them so they are safer than most! (we have those narrow steep twisty staircases that you get in really old houses).

I was slightly taken aback when the lady in front of me at the checkout asked if I was all right lifting my basket off the floor. As I was going to have to carry the stuff home of course I was all right! My mood was much improved when SiL (50) fell over in the street and was surrounded by a crowd of people wanting to help him up Needless to say his loving family found it hysterically funny.

Interesting this. Whilst I charge upstairs two at a time, I find I have taken to holding the bannister and coming down more carefully. Don't know why and when this started to happen but it is a regular practice now. I really shouldn't because I've newly painted it so maybe I'll have to wash my hands even more often. Dearie me......

A bit cheeky but ...
A very fit friend in his 60 s has just fallen down the stairs, broken arm, ribs broken in several places, punctured lung, 30 stitches in his head.
I'm thinking about getting a stair gate for the top of the stairs (only joking)

I agree with menopaws, I take it he’s not getting the job then.

I am laughing phoenix
I take it he won't get the job!

I offered to take someones supermarket trolley back for her the other day as they could slot in together (very small ones) - she said it would be easier for her to do it than me. She must have been about the same age as you phoenix so I must look like a doddery old person.

I agree grandma 70s. People are trying to be helpful. Would you rather no-one offerd to help if you really needed it?

Grannyactivist, that made me laugh. Our type of humour

I hate to say this, but maybe some of you look older than you think you do!!

They’re trying to be nice. Be grateful. You might need help one day, if not yet.

I wonder if he would have believed her if she'd said it was a dead cat.

Nothing to do with falling down stairs, but to do with a helping hand. True story:
A friend was looking after a friend's cat, which unfortunately died on her watch. She phoned the vet who said he didn't do house calls, but if she could manage to bring the cat's body to the surgery they would hold it til the owner came home.
So, not having any transport, she put the cat in a suitcase and set off for the railway station. As she got off the train a young man offered to help her carry the case up the flight of stairs. At the top he said "That's a very heavy case, what do you have in it?"
She was too embarrassed to say it was a dead cat, so said it was her son's computer and equipment.
The kind man dashed up the stairs and disappeared from view.

How much did he quote for the job then?

Returning from a break away, we were dismayed to find that the station lift was out of order and we would have to carry our case over the passenger bridge. Cue, a very kind young man who insisted on taking over (despite our protestations). Didn't give us a chance to properly explain that it also contained 6 bottles of a local beer (birthday present for SIL). Think he regretted his actions by the time he reached bridge level but laughed anyway and even insisted on helping us onto the train.

Do I take this as a compliment when women accompany their male partners, who I have employed to do minor repairs for me , sit in a vehicle reading a book while their men carry out the work?
I have been old enough , on two occasions to be their grandmother and old enough on another to be their mother.Is there no trust ?

Personally I think life is too short to take offence .....just laugh like I did when I broke my femur and had to use a walker frame ....great !!! Lots of nice fit young me held doors open for me ....helped me cross the road ....bring it on !!!!! Wouldn't have minded taking one home to make me a cup of tea instead of having to stand an drink it in the kitchen ......methinks you doth protest too much .......and anyway, he has your interests at heart ...people younger than you have fallen down stairs and killed themselves ...why only yesterday Simon Cowell fell down the stairs and missed the X Factor ,,,,,,did he fall or was he pushed .....