please empty your brain below
And as anyone over the fifty mark will tell you, time speeds up from now on. Days,weeks and months whizz by like there's an enormous finger somewhere,swirling us all round and round,faster and faster,until we disappear down the plug'ole! 😉

Jo W | 17.04.15 - 7:39 a.m. | #

Generally the blog should keep you alive as you'll have something in the future to plan for, once that stops the bloke with the scythe puts you down for a career review.

| 17.04.15 - 7:52 a.m. | #

'Chats with doctors over the last few years'...aha! If you want a longer, happier life, avoid these wherever possible! All the best, Richard (turning 52.0 on Monday)

Richard Whitehead | 17.04.15 - 8:32 a.m. | #

That's one of the best things I've read on getting to fifty (which I do in July). Much as one would like to believe it's no more significant than any other birthday, it does tend to concentrate the mind. I'm starting to have those 'where do I go from here' thoughts, and realising that this isn't the beginning any more.

With those timelines though, you could try looking at it in terms of your *adult* life, which is the bit you get to live on your own terms, and that shifts where you are now almost back to the half way point. Works for me.

Sarah | Homepage | 17.04.15 - 8:35 a.m. | #

pedant mode : ON

No no, you're 1% away through your fifty-first year, not 1% of your through your fifties - your fifties being your sixth decade on this planet between the ages of 50-59.

pedant mode : OFF

i'm sure some who's good at maths here can work out and tell you when 1% of your fifties has elapsed.

Geofftech | Homepage | 17.04.15 - 8:49 a.m. | #

Oh, and also.. i have thought about this a lot (Why wouldn't i? we're indentical is such respects, and my reasoning is this..)

take is from the age of 18. because 18 is when you are an adult, free to work, travel, spend money and make decisions as much as you like. If you look at is like that, then between 18 and 50, you've been going for 32 years. If you take 75 as your cut-off point, then that's another 25 years and 25 to 32 doesn't sound so bad.

Considering that you don't smoke, drink little, and walk every for good excercise, and the average age of death is increasig every year, there's every chance you could live to (say) 82, which - weh hey! is another 32 years from now.

In other words, you are actually only half way through your adult, life with another half to go - not a thirds. think of it that way! (i do)

Geofftech | Homepage | 17.04.15 - 8:54 a.m. | #

Once again, DG , you've successfully put into words what so many of us have experienced.

(Pink Floyd also did a pretty good job in their lyrics to "Time"!)

The big positive is that you've noticed this happening, and I'm sure that can only change your life in a good way. Looking forward to the next 25+++ years of your blog!

Dicky | Homepage | 17.04.15 - 9:05 a.m. | #

I heard recently that 60 is the new 40, and is now sort of considered the start of Middle Age - except by potential employers!

DG, you are but a spring chicken. Keep up the healthy lifestyle and carpe diem indeed!

Bronchitikat | Homepage | 17.04.15 - 10:48 a.m. | #

BTW,, I turn 60 next year so am looking forward to starting middle age, and, possibly, some age-related reductions!

Bronchitikat | Homepage | 17.04.15 - 10:49 a.m. | #

Geoff, read the first sentence again.
Five weeks is 10% of a year, that is 1% of a decade.
1% would be just 3 days into the year.

Greg | 17.04.15 - 11:35 a.m. | #

Has a pedant ever actually been correct on the internet? A constant source of amusement, thanks Geoff.

Simon | 17.04.15 - 11:52 a.m. | #

Know the %ages but set them aside. 60 really is the new 40; I'm 64 so been practicing for a while. Been retired 3.5 years and having the best time of my life because of the unending joy of 'the second cup of tea in the morning' - as in 'shall I do X or have that second cuppa?'.

In my first employment, I joined the pension scheme: when I compared their level pension and graduated pension payouts, they crossed over, ie the Scheme broke even, at age 76. But they missed that longevity had steadily increased post-WW2. I may reach 100, but all being as it is now I should go on ranting and writing well into my 80s.

Give the geezer in the black cloak a long, long run for his money. Start by waking up each morning with the news "I ain't dead yet."

Joel | 17.04.15 - 12:35 p.m. | #

I believe there is a point where you have to start thinking yourself a day younger every day.

rashbre | Homepage | 17.04.15 - 1:36 p.m. | #

But, someone with a life limiting, or life-terminating, condition might be very glad to be in your position...

Bue Witch | Homepage | 17.04.15 - 1:42 p.m. | #

Perhaps you should analyse less leaving more time to enjoy life. My gran never thought of herself as an old woman well into her 80s and I remember my other Gran being proud of reaching her 70s (which I scoffed at at the time but now admire). We're so inwardly focusing now. I don't think we live as healthy a life as our grandparents either so I reckon the life expectancy will drop, there's positivity for you...

SJM | 17.04.15 - 2:39 p.m. | #

Having recently experienced a incident that could have killed me I perhaps can tell you this is all rubbish. You are probably lucky to have reached 50, leave it at that. The time one proposes is left to oneself is all but wishful thinking. For many people today is their last day...some are young, some a bit older and others quite old, life is just a blip and it can go in a instant as I (yet again) concluded recently. We should all consider having tomorrow to look forward to a blessing...anything more is truely a bonus.

Grumpy Anon | 17.04.15 - 5:15 p.m. | #

I too turn 50 this year.
I was talking to one of my kids about a school project they were doing on the Norman Conquest, and realised that they'd most likely be able to enjoy the hoopla surrounding the one thousandth anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. And then I though, "Hang on, there's a chance I could be around for that too!"
I enjoyed your posts from Hastings in 2012 and 2014, DG, and I look forward to your report following your visit in 2066.

Richard M | 17.04.15 - 6:26 p.m. | #

I've noticed with advancing years that I am no longer referred to as 'That bl*****y ....' there is now one less adjective so I am 'That ****'. All these years I haven't been filling forms correctly...my first name is clearly 'That'.

B | 17.04.15 - 6:35 p.m. | #

Someone told me today that middle age now extends to 74.
Which is strange, as I've just received THAT letter from the DVLA....

Tony (Somerset) | 17.04.15 - 8:04 p.m. | #

You never know - I nearly killed myself in an accident twelve years ago - I was younger than you are now. My father took early retirement because his own father died a month before he was due to retire. He is now 85. Conversely my mother died at 65, only ten years after her own had dies.
A lady of my acquaintance said she didn't like the idea of sheltered housing: "it's full of old people". She was 87 at the time. Another one had a more positive attitude: "it's like being back at University"

timbo | 17.04.15 - 9:50 p.m. | #

I am 52, I have 2 ambitions, one is to get to 2047 so I can celebrate 1000 years since the founding of London, 84 is an achievable age and I believe Boris Johnson may blow the budget and buy a packet of sparklers.

The other is to get to 2066-76 so I can celebrate a 1000 years of the oldest functional building in London. This would mean I would have to manage to get to somewhere between 103 to 113. This may be possible but would require advances in medical technology and for me to go into a trance like state for a number of years.

To achieve this end I have started watching every party political broadcast going.

I may yet do it.

See you in 2066

gUH | 17.04.15 - 10:33 p.m. | #

I turn 40 in November, and just that thought has massively affected my mindset about whether I'm using my life well and thinking about all the things I want to fit in to it (most of which I've not even started). Your blog always reminds me of all the interesting stuff I could be doing.

Anders | Homepage | 19.04.15 - 11:34 a.m. | #











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