Is anybody out there fifty something?

Now that I have finally put pen to paper, no I'm in the technological age it is fingertip to keyboard, I have realised just how invisible the world of the fiftysomethings is.  

Does anyone admit to being in this decade, or do modern people make a swift leap from the fabulous forties to taking up with the ranks of the OAPs, having spent ten years of denial?  Apart from dear Mary Portas, who else has tried to champion the cause of us as we control the middle age spread, take a keen interest in anti-wrinkle cream and allow the occasional thought about just what type of retirement might be facing us.  Do we have to accept that H & M is not the best place to look for an outfit and start buying our clothes in Sainsbury’s?  

Where is the fashion magazine with a target audience of (dare I say the dirty words)  middle age, whose editor seeks out models with eyes that sparkle with all the happiness and heartache the decades have launched at us, not just the usual plus size girl and token 70 year old with steely grey hair. 

I think we are the lost generation as far as retail and media are concerned.

On trend and fiftysomething?

I thought I was keeping ‘on trend’ with the life of my two ‘hip’ daughters.  I was very proud to be able to master texting and emailing to keep in touch during senior school and university years.

 But now they tell me about the hilarity of my loving texts, thinking I was signing off saying lots of love.  Now they tell me what LOL really stands for! And it really did make them laugh out loud, every time I sent a message!

It’s not like the old days, this over fifty Mum is not allowed to sink into comfortable shoes, tea parties and music my parents used to enjoy.  I have to keep a tight grip on my clothes which just have to be borrowed. I don’t mind the shoe sharing, it gives me the license to accumulate even more as they have treble the usage! And as for the bathroom cupboard and make-up drawer, well I have developed a technique to storing which involves packing so much in that any unexpected movement brings the whole lot crashing out and a lot of explaining to think about! It doesn’t stop there, even my husband has discovered the wonders of Clinique products and he smugly thinks he is above any reprimanding, he’s probably right, I keep quiet in return for no comments on my excessive use of a credit card.

Now we can share our knowledge as I can explain the finer details of running a website and they give me instructions on how to use the cast off ipod and if I’m lucky, the old Blackberry will be winging its way to me
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Fifty something is certainly a far cry from the stereo typical image in my mother’s day and here you’ll find some light hearted thoughts and observations of coping with this fast changing world and accepting that our ‘little babies’ have grown up.