A Bizarre Parody of The Song, ‘Panic’ by The Smiths — Back in 1986, when I was throwing myself around my bedsit with wild abandon to anything and everything by The Smiths, little did I envisage that my future 54 year-old self’s body and mind would be so ravaged and crazed by the menopause that I would decide to change all…

Transcript of Sue Gray interview #37: January 2022. — Good to finally meet you, Sue. Your name has become somewhat notorious of late, what with this long-anticipated report you’ve been writing. I hadn’t even heard of you before all this unnecessary furore that’s been whipped up those pesky media vultures. Joe Public doesn’t give two hoots about what really…

Hooray! The day I’ve been waiting for is finally here! I get to claim this year’s birthday present from my lovely grown-up daughter — a hot stone massage! Blissful Anticipation Having experienced a couple of these in the past, I have high expectations. …

“If you can’t say something nice, say it in French.” Anonymous What type of argument are we having? When considering how to win an argument, we must first establish what type of argument we’re having. As with everything in life, the argument is not a black and white concept. It is more of a psychedelic kaleidoscope. Emotional vs non-emotional arguments? All…

Does intellectual overthinking inevitably lead to morbid fascination and depression? — The other day, my 74 year-old mother pulled me up on what she called my “tendency to view everything with a morbid fascination.” “You certainly didn’t inherit it from me,” she said. “You must get it from your father.” Now, this isn’t the first time she’s accused my father of…

Meet Neil.

Here are 20 Humiliating Injuries & Common Medical Conditions Heading Your Way Soon. — Old people diseases If you are on the wrong side of 50, you should pour yourself a stiff brandy, sink into your favourite comfy armchair, and pay attention. Please don’t shoot the messenger, but you need to know about this stuff. OK, ready? Here goes … So, you are likely aware that “old…

The “Stupid Things We Did” Series: Part 1 — Cast your mind back a few decades to those halcyon days of your youth. Those seven or eight years, between the ages of 13 and 19 when you’re meant to leave your innocent childhood days behind, and bloom into a self-assured responsible adult. That’s the theory, anyway. Do you recall…

Ever since my 20s, I’ve been a huge fan of Jenny Joseph’s poem, “Warning” — the one that goes, “when I am an old woman I shall wear purple.” Now that I am actually an old lady (well, my 21-year-old self would have thought 53 old, anyway!). …