Well I am pleased to see an article in the Sunday Times Style magazine in praise of older women. I think its not before time myself. I havent caught up with the Oscars yet but if Helen Mirren gets one then hopefully the fashion industry, the media et al will wake up to the fact that there is more to life than being under 25.

I am trying to start a campaign, build up a head of steam, to get more recognition for those of us over 40 shall we say. I was at a friend's **th birthday party on Saturday having desperately trawled through my wardrobe to try to find something to wear that fitted and looked halfway decent. Strangely all the women at the party had exactly the same problem- no-one could find anything nice to wear that was grownup and not covered in girlie frills, baby patterns and cut so tight/short/ revealing that said items would be uncomfortable to wear. We variously felt we either looked like mutton dressed as white lamb or bag ladies. It's bad enough being over a Certain Age, without being unable to find clothes to fit properly ( and I am not talking expensive, just high street clothes so one is not walking around in dustbinliners)

This has more serious repercussions than me just whingeing about I havent got a thing to wear. Recently I see there is shed loads of reporterage about size 0 and the damage it is causing our teenage girls who aspire to size 0 at age 12 and end up with huge psychological problems. They don't grow up properly either- mentally and psychologically. Damaged goods.

Well if the fashion industry focussed on the older woman for a change that would make life easier for us and also take the heat off young girls. They could then (it won't happen stright away- but it would after a few years once the ball gets rolling) learn to be kids again, and grow up in their own time without fashion and the media whipping them on. I think this is a win- win situation myself.

Will anybody do anything about it?

Here we go.....

I feel like the White Rabbit out of Alice....no time..no time....

Three days at work plus dogs, housework, meeting workmen to dicuss spalling brickwork and other sundry repairs, putting up guests of a friend who was having such a large -- birthday party that his guests were bivouaced around and about, leaves like 40 seconds to do my adapted screenplay and crit someone else's work. I think I need to mutate into a spider, and then I'd have 4 pairs of legs - which I could use for all these tiresome jobbies wot I'd rather not do.

Oh, but a long time no see friend from France turned up, so that was nice way to lose time. It's comforting to know that folks don't change really. In fact most of my women friends are taking the toll of years exceedingly well. Maybe some middle aged spread, a few tiny wrinkles here and there, but on the whole they don't look at all bad. And they are so lively.

Whereas the men....well...what can I say? They might act like they are still 10, but grey hair, grey facial hair, bushy eyebrows that you need to get a hedge trimmer on, paunches, stoops and generally looking like they are letting themselves go. Tch tch. Or is this a cunning masterplan devised so they can all hang out together reliving their youth without their wives/partners going on at them?

One or two of my friends have toy boys (relatively speaking)...I can see why. So out with the old gits and in with their younger competitors?! I dont see why men should think they have the exclusive on younger models.

My trouble is I dont get out enough in the right sort of places to meet anyone younger. I am caught in a strata of older people. It's hard to cross these age barriers. Personally I dont want to hang out with 20 year old, but a healthy mix would be good. However, one never knows what's around the corner...

Talking of which my son had new horizens ahead of him. He's just landed himself his first proper job. Hurray hurray! In London starting in October. He's now planning a quick interim escape from us old fogies by travelling other parts of the World he hasnt seen yet. Don't know how environmentally friendly this is going to be as I think seeing friends in South America is on his agenda. What do you do though?

In the meantime I am feeling a mix of happiness for him and the start of a new phase in his life and sadness that he will be off again, happiness that I wont have a grumpy young man flopping around, sadness that the interesting, thoughtful laid back young man that he also is will not be around for much longer.

Heigh ho. Think I will go and have a strong cup of caffeine to distract me and get me awake enough to get on with some writting.

Tra la. Where does time go? I am supposed to be spending the day writing. Instead I have been doing housework, scooping poop, walking dogs, waiting for a decorator to come and give me a quote hopefully less jaw droppingly expensive than previous decorators and running my son to the station.

He's got a second round interview- advertising and marketing. Why hasnt he got his train tickets sorted out? Why hasnt he got his clothes sorted? Why is he washing his shirt and trousers at 11.00 am when his train is at 13.30? Why, when they are still damp-ish and he's packing, doesn't he iron said shirt and press said trousers first? The job is in advertising - which as I understood it is all about presentation?? Don't need to..... Excuse me??? Oh la; he's just too chilled.

I offered to run him to the station- to make sure he caught his train. Oh lets just stop at the doctors first as he needed to pick up a precription for antibiotics. Plenty of time- its 13.10 by now. There are roads works whichever way to the station. We choose Route B - oh just turn left up there- it doesnt say no entry- it doesnt have to - the lanes are marked straight on, the junction is deliberately designed to be awkward. Guess what- yep I have to turn left otherwise he wont get his ticket and he won't make the train.

I am a nervous wreck. He strolls off. I phone later- he caught the train. But - will he iron his shirt and press his trousers? So that at least he looks half decent.... Why am I a mother? Gawd- you should have to be interviewed for that as a job. It doesnt suit everyone you know. I probably would have been better as an estate agent.

Bless him though. I am crossing my fingers for him. And I hope I get my 50 quid back that I have lent him for expenses.....

Right back to some proper work.

Hmmmm. It's a long time since I was here. At my age it took several nanoseconds to register the changes.

Are they worth it? Is the new better than the old? If it aint broke why fix it shot through my mind. However, for medical research purposes I decided to give it a go. This is how you keep young I guess- experiment, be daring, change, do 70 situps.

I am gobsmacked that I got replies to my previous post last September. No-one reads my posts. Except two people. As I didnt think anyone did read them I have only just found this out.

*waving at my two contributors* thanks!!!

So what's up- well I shall put up a link ( if I can work out how to) to my Novel Experiences blog- cos that sort of sums up what's up. Novels- well script writing at present. I am also working on an anthology contribution. My novel is simmering on the back burner.

Perhaps I shall combine the two blogs- very wasteful to have two really in these days of global warming, sustainability and so forth.

I have to think of a suitable name though.....MA-dness ( I'm doing an MA and I'm mad) AlMAMater - I'm doing an MA, I'm mad and I'm a mother. Hmmmmmmm.

Talking of being a mother. No 1 son is home from his world travels. ( Well he came home last September). I think he had a good time, despite splitting up with his long term girlfriend. Every photo has him with his arm around a girlie and a pint in his hand. It's a hard life. But he's trying ( ??!!) - he has a second round interview for a graduate job next week and a first round assessment for another job in March. He's a very nice boy ( although I say it myself - well I would - wouldn't I? ) But it's time to move on. He needs a place of his own and a life away from home.

He is very lucky when you read of all the ills in this poor sad world of ours. He might be facing a very uncertain future though if global warming does kick in with a vengence. What a mess eh?

Right, well I wont start on a rant...I shall go and try and become more sophisticated on here.

Any comments most appreciated - just to see if anyone is still out there in blogland.