RANT ALERT!

[Kuikentje]

Having decided that I'm going to join a gym - only for keeping up with spinning - I went last night to get some info. It was quite hard to convince the young lady that this is all I'm interested in, not the mediaeval torture chamber, not the swimming, not the tai chi; she showed me round and then listed the other things I could join in with, one of which was (I'm cringing even to have to type this) something called 'Young At Heart'.

I nearly slapped her, but I confined myself to interrupting her and saying to her "Don't say 'Young At Heart' to me, don't even mention it." She looked a bit surprised.

I hate this expression beyond belief. I hate it so much I become quite incoherent having to explain why. Firstly I was annoyed even to be categorised as somebody who would need to have that kind of a definition. I am who I am. I am not part of a group of people who like to think of themselves as young at bloody heart. Secondly, why, WHY would anybody think that anybody wants to define themselves like this? It is a horrible, patronising, prejudiced, condescending, assumption-making expression. Bad enough that she thinks I am like one of those dreadful embarrassing grannies on You've Been Framed. I'd already told her that the reason I want to do spinning is partly to keep my leg muscles strong for snowboarding and horseriding. Does she seriously think that I want to sit in a chair and wave my arms in time to music? Does she seriously think that I see myself as old in body but feel proud of the fact that I know who the latest 'pop groups' are and understand what LOL means in a text?

If anybody, ever, ever, ever calls me young at heart - or sprightly - or anything like that, I swear I will break the habit of a lifetime and become violent.

I haven't finished the rant but I have run out of breath

[wendy]

he he he he

[mrs boodles]

[Totally Scrambled]

Did she at least offer you the discounted OAP membership rate?




Dom

[albertajune]

I know exactly how you feel but saw the amusing side all the same as I could picture me in your place and having the same reaction.

Dom you are so cheeky as usual.

[Mad Chick]

I shouldn't really but...

I'm not sure I would have been as restrained as you...

[Scrambled]

Oh, this is so funny!!!

Has made me laugh out loud here

Young At Heart - for heavens sake!

[Kuikentje]

Dom, would you like me to mur.der you now while I still have the strength to hurl my zimmer frame across the room?

I did in fact get a bit of a discount because of working for the NHS, which I think is the first time in nearly forty years that I have ever had any sort of perk. People think we get subsidised meals in the canteen, preferential treatment in A&E for work-related incidents, and so on. Well, we don't!

Some government minister or other said a few weeks ago that NHS staff should set a good example, not only should we not smoke or get drunk and so on, but we should try to live a healthy lifestyle and not be overweight. He upset a lot of people who claimed that nurses don't have time to eat healthily (I disagree - we can't blame other people for our own choices). I hate 'exercise' in a gym beyond belief, it is so unbelievably boring, but I suppose for those who do like it, a discount on the price might be a bit of an incentive.

[manda]

Dom, would you like me to mur.der you now while I still have the strength to hurl my zimmer frame across the room?

I did in fact get a bit of a discount because of working for the NHS, which I think is the first time in nearly forty years that I have ever had any sort of perk. People think we get subsidised meals in the canteen, preferential treatment in A&E for work-related incidents, and so on. Well, we don't!

That's global ...I went to A&E following a shift and got home 4 hours later ...just what I needed after a night duty

Some government minister or other said a few weeks ago that NHS staff should set a good example, not only should we not smoke or get drunk and so on, but we should try to live a healthy lifestyle and not be overweight. He upset a lot of people who claimed that nurses don't have time to eat healthily (I disagree - we can't blame other people for our own choices). I hate 'exercise' in a gym beyond belief, it is so unbelievably boring, but I suppose for those who do like it, a discount on the price might be a bit of an incentive.

I do agree but the effects of shift work has to be taken into considerationnot just physically ...it's not an excuse but it can make it difficult,unlike the Minister the NHS doesn't provide 24 hour gyms or someone at home all the time to make the meals.

[Freeranger]

Maybe now you've got it off your chest and onto the screen, you should cut and paste it into an email to the gym by way of explanation.

I so understand it. Big organisations as well are slow to catch on. Aga holidays and the olderconcernedpeoples' charities are for the 50+ age group. Well when my granny was 50 perhaps, but now it just looks like touting for business!

My Dad was told about an over 50s club at the local health centre, but when he asked what they did he was told they did things like playing dominos. As well as why anyone over 50 feels old, I want to know why when you get to the magic age your interests shrink to bingo and dominos. Why not doing a new degree course or extreme ironing or marathon running or an investment club or volunteering or.........

[Mo]

My Dad was told about an over 50s club at the local health centre, but when he asked what they did he was told they did things like playing dominos. As well as why anyone over 50 feels old, I want to know why when you get to the magic age your interests shrink to bingo and dominos. Why not doing a new degree course or extreme ironing or marathon running or an investment club or volunteering or.........

.....or join U3A

[Mo]

I've noticed, when opening bank accounts, that people are trained to have a script which they must go through. It's best not to interrupt, just say yes and let them get on with it because whatever you say will not alter what they have GOT to say. "I've read the terms and conditions on line and I want this account because ..." "the T&C are..., are you aware that ...(what I just said!)"
Defence against mis-selling I suppose.
Maybe Gym people have targets and scripts too.

As far as age goes I think it hits quite suddenly, in some ways. My MIL was very active, then got rheumatoid arthritis overnight at 60. We've lasted longer than that but, at 76 (OH) & 71 are less inclined to dash about than we were.

[Kuikentje]

You know what I overheard last night in my spinning class? I overheard the instructor telling somebody about a group called MATURE MOVERS!

I mean, for heaven's sake! I would like to think this is a removals firm that specialises in not throwing your ornaments playfully into the back of the removal van and declining to make sexist jokes; but somehow I doubt it.

I know people who think of themselves as old just because they have passed a certain birthday. My brother-in-law is doing it already and he's only 55, and I have a cousin-in-law who's been saying he's old for years now. And, yes, sadly it's true that I don't heal up as quickly as I did when I hurt myself - but I'm not going to let that stop me doing anything that risks me getting hurt. Then I really might as well play nothing but dominoes (nothing wrong with dominoes - but it should just be one amongst many interests). If i ever have to have a zimmer frame I've already decided I'm going to decorate it with go-fast stripes, a sticker saying 'turbo' and a Welsh flag.

[barboo]

I must admit i fell about laughing at the O.Page on this one,
It's like that advert on the tele we're a girl runs into the OAP's home saying sorry im late
"As she turns on her getto blaster and all you see is her behind shaking like an earthquake and her telling the old folks to shake what your mother gave you!!!. And they all join in,

All i can say is MORE MORE MORE OF THE SAME PLEASE.

[Kuikentje]

Did anybody see that TV article on 'pickleball'?

This is a game named after the inventor's dog, Pickle, who used to run away with the ball. It's a combination of tennis, table-tennis and badminton - played by old people. There is a European championship. The couple they were featuring were 81 and 77. It's not as energetic as badminton or tennis, and is played over a waist-high net with a sort of glorified table-tennis bat. But people do run about and they have to have quick reactions and good hand-eye co-ordination (so I'd never be any good. I couldn't even hit a ball with today's tennis racquets which are the size of coffee tables).

Obviously, with a name like pickleball nobody can take it too seriously. It was so encouraging to see older people playing something so physical. I do realise that we are not all blessed with good health - and in my job I see a disproportionate amount of the unwell elderly - it was just good to be reminded that if you are lucky enough to be in reasonable physical shape, you can still find new and enjoyable things to do.