The creeping sickness that is old age...

[Corkhead]

Agree with all this positive thinking. Stay young, never give up, keep right on to the end of the road etc.
However, it's not the mind giving up or the attitude diminishing, it's the bloody body failing you that becomes the problem. I was fine until well past 70 but the last few years have got so much harder. I have serious pains in my ankles, knees and hips. My walk has become quite unstable. On top of that I suffered a bout of viral labrynthitis a couple of years ago and my balance is also poor. Nowadays I have to leave games 5 minutes esrly just to get down the stairs before the rush starts.
So a match day becomes a bit of an ordeal, but still a massive decision to give up the S/T.
You're a long time dead as they say.

You young 60 year olds have got it all to come. Good Luck.

Labrynthitis is evil Bladds. It will be that more than anything that will have ruined your confidence. I had a bout of that when I was at coll

[pfclassof61]

Once you stop you'll never start again so make sure you mean it if you decide to quit your thing whatever it is.
I still get on the squash court 2/3 times a week.

Is it as simple as this?

On good days, I seriously consider playing badminton again. I thrashed my son-in-law at table tennis a month ago - hadn't played for 30 years. I 'race' other cyclists all the time. So being naturally competitive, I just WANT to compete. It'll probably be the death of me.

Well done Corky for playing squash regularly. Is this eyeballs-out or tippy-tappy? Mrs Class played squash until well into her fifties. Then she messed up her knee going for a shot and lay writhing on the floor holding her leg. 'What is it? What is it?', she screamed.

'8-7' was the reply.

[pfclassof61]

I have serious pains in my ankles, knees and hips. My walk has become quite unstable.

Blue Adder, I've found PERNATON Gel to be brilliant for aches and pains.

[Corkhead]

Well done Corky for playing squash regularly. Is this eyeballs-out or tippy-tappy?

No it's serious stuff.

Well for me anyway. I play in the local league and you are up against kids in their 20s/30s. No tippy tappy allowed. Respect for venerability is at stake.

An old football mate of mine applied his same footie aggression to squash. Once he played a 72 year-old woman in a league match. He went on court with the mantra "there is no way I can lose to a some old bird". He lost 3-0 and came off court like a wet rag. She had played international squash for Wales.

[pfclassof61]

All power to yer racket wrist, Corky!

Talking of wrists, I used to improve my wrist strength with a Body Power wrist ball. Very effective! No limp wrists yer, old bean!

You can always tell the super trained racket players from the plebs. They know how to move ya around and have got their positioning off to a tee ( ). Used to play a Welsh international at table tennis. Could give him a game - but never won a series. He had this amazing backhand 'flip' - so little action, but the ball was past you like a rocket. All about timing.

[bluekite]

Well done Corky for playing squash regularly. Is this eyeballs-out or tippy-tappy?

No it's serious stuff.

Well for me anyway. I play in the local league and you are up against kids in their 20s/30s. No tippy tappy allowed. Respect for venerability is at stake.

An old football mate of mine applied his same footie aggression to squash. Once he played a 72 year-old woman in a league match. He went on court with the mantra "there is no way I can lose to a some old bird". He lost 3-0 and came off court like a wet rag. She had played international squash for Wales. [/quote]
This mantra was used by my opponents in my last tennis match on a very hot humid evening... we were in our 50s they were teenagers with big topspin forehands... we were from the wooden Maxply racquet/green flash shoes dynasty... we won in three long hard pre-tiebreak sets but I did think "Why am I puttin

[pfclassof61]

There's another factor here not mentioned so far - underlying medical conditions you are not aware of.

I played badminton with my son to my late 50s but had to stop because I was always messed up the following day. Went to the Doc and he basically laughed me out of the surgery - nothing wrong, mate if you can do that. No blood tests - nothing!

Then came the stroke.

My thyroid had packed up. The delicate mechanism of glands (which specialists don seem to understand) was buggered. Some of the bloods results were off the scale.

Now I have to pace meself. I have good days and 'bloody' days.

But on the good days, I can do anything!

I'm Superman!

Damn Krypton!

[Lancer]

The thing about getting old is you become completely invisible to the younger people. You just don't exist and your ignored.

The other thing I've noted is people feel confident with you, especially women. Years ago if I started to talk to a woman on a train etc it would be difficult with barriers erected by the woman. Now I find it so easy to engage in a good conversation and have a laugh. Woman find it easier in talking with an older gentleman and far more relaxed.
You can also wear anything you want when you go out as your just that old fart and no one takes any notice !

[pfclassof61]

The thing about getting old is you become completely invisible to the younger people. You just don't exist and your ignored.

'Cept for muggers!

[Corkhead]

Years ago if I started to talk to a woman on a train etc it would be difficult with barriers erected by the woman.
You can also wear anything you want when you go out as your just that old fart and no one takes any notice !

Where's everyone's pride gone? Being an old git in a stained shell suit and wellingtons is no excuse for molesting ladies on a train.

That reminds me, where's my leopardskin mankini?