looked in the mirror, and wished you hadn't?

Actually I think I look better from the back Soutra!

But I have a very special mirror on the wall in my bedroom. It's large, and in it I see the person I was -20-- 10 years ago. Very few wrinkles, quite slim,
no saggy bits and she seems to be smiling.

Not like the hated mirror in my bathroom which is inhabited by the spirit of my great Aunt Betty.

I have a very old photograph of my paternal great grandmother and I see myself staring out of it. Same hair same face.

We laugh and joke about this because if we didn' we'd put out head under the duvet and never come out!! BUT I was shocked recently by my own reaction to a pic on fb of a friend of many years (who is a very good looking woman) with her DD and DGD. For a moment or two I saw my friend in her daughter and wndered who the grey haired old lady was! <hangs head in shame >

My bathroom mirror shows head, shoulders and a couple of inches below but, like papaoscar I dread those in hotels which go much further down and show far too much flab flesh.

DD put a photo of me on Facebook yesterday pushing her infant in the 'stroller'. I was a bit pleased at first until I saw the image of a chinless wonder with a large spare tyre and a couple of beer bottles for legs. Huh, so much for the 5:2

Back fat, Soutra! Where does it come from? I don'l like being seen in a swimsuit but needs must when I'm on holiday.

I think it's the random back views in pics that upset me most. Surely I am not alone in suffering from the dreaded back fat ?? I can simper and half turn for "posed" photos ( granted not a lot better) but the back end of a bus and my own are hard to tell apart

I think I could be almost passable, if I had a facelift, had my teeth veneered and lost a couple of stone. Is it worth it, as I'll still be old and invisible?

I have recounted before how an aunt told me that I looked just like my mother at the same age (20ish) 'just not as pretty'

It's scary to see your mother looking back especially if, like mine, she's 91!!

When I'm applying makeup or doing my hair I seem to look not so bad. But when I'm caught unawares or have a photograph taken I seem to have morphed into someone else who has a strange expression on her face and a couple more chins. I just look like a completely different person that now I shy away from having photos taken. It's given me a big complex.

we should form a club!

Bloomin' heck yes rosesarered. I hate looking in the mirror as I am always so disappointed by what I see. Sometimes when I am all dressed to go out (admittedly not very often) I feel quite good almost passable and then I take a peep in the mirror and feel totally deflated. It is because of this I have a deep hatred of visiting the hairdressers. I would rather visit the dentist, at least you don't have to stare at your own reflection !

I also hate my photo taken. I can't do "natural". I always tell friends and relatives to leave me out as it will only spoil their pictures. Over the years (having seen the results) most people would tend to agree.

When my Mother was about 17, she overheard her younger brother and a schoolfriend talking about her,
schoolfriend ; 'your sister's all right isn't she?!'
brother ; 'Aye, not bad, in the dark with the light behind her!'
Think I have reached that stage now.

I'm not too keen on mirrors either, had a quick look this morning (with specs on) to check eyebrows...... must make an appointment for waxing A.S.A.P...... they resemble two caterpillars having a deep and meaningful conversation, I have decided I have a face for a power cut!

Loathe the mirror - my mother keeps looking at me through it!

Think how happy medieval ladies of a certain age must have been - mirrors weren't great, no glasses and only candlelight to see by - they must have thought they were stunning

I wish I could look in the mirror and see my grandmother, she was lovely. Unfortunately the good looks have not been passed down to me. I usually have a shock when I see myself unexpectedly in a shop window or mirror, I often don't realise at first that it is me. (I obviously think I look better than I do, my bathroom mirror must be flattering and I daren't look in the full-length one in DD's bedroom.)

Dread those hotels with wall-to-wall mirrors in the bathroom. They should be banned!

Hee-hee Hilda know what you mean. I have always hated my photo taken, unless it's done really quickly my face kind of 'freezes' into a strange expression.Mind you, I really AM short, but at 5 8" you are tall [to me.]Maybe it was a weird photo angle, yes, that's it!

I've never been keen on being photo'd and am even less keen now. Looking through a recent trip's photos on line I keep seeing the back of this short dumpy straggly grey haired creature. Heck it cannot be me, I am 5ft 8 (or was on my last job application 10 years ago) and my hair is a tasteful blend of silver and blonde highlights! I blow dry it every day and looks pretty snazzy in my mirror (not wearing glasses of course).

Actually, we should probably all give mirrors a miss.

newist I am with you on that! I too see my Grandma.

Ah! petallus you have hit on exactly the right remedy! We must all stop wearing our specs.
I know what you mean katy about things vanishing that you do want and vice versa. Sigh. We should not go near a mirror when not feeling well Glamma it's asking for trouble.