So what is going on in the world today. There are so many stories one could write about. How about the world’s oldest man dying last week at 112 only to be replaced by John Tinniswood who has recently become the world's oldest man at 111. This "younger oldie", who says eating fish chips every Friday is the secret of longevity?
Tinniswood is also the world's oldest surviving male World War II veteran. He served in an admin role for the British Army Pay Corps, which involved doing accounts and logistics, including organizing food supplies and locating stranded soldiers. He then worked in admin and accountancy for the UK's postal service the Royal Mail, as well as Shell, and BP before he retired in 1972.
Tinniswood was married to his wife, Blodwen, who died in 1986, for 44 years. The couple had four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The staff at his residential home describe Tinniswood as a "big chatterbox," according to Guinness World Records. And, even at 111 years old, he is mobile and independent, managing his own finances and getting out of bed unassisted.
An interesting fact is that the oldest living documented person in the world is American-born Maria Branyas Morera, who currently resides in Spain. As of Feb. 28, Branyas Morera is 116 years and 361 days old and is reportedly still officially the world's oldest living person. Her remarkable longevity is attributed to a combination of factors: order, tranquillity, good connections with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people.
The oldest known age ever attained was by Jeanne Calment, a Frenchwoman who died in 1997 at the age of 122. Ms. Calment is also the only documented case of a person living past 120, which many scientists had pegged as the upper limit of the human lifespan. Jeanne, born in Arles, France, on 21 February 1875 (14 years before the Eiffel Tower was built), lived on to become the oldest person ever verified, reaching the age of 122 years 164 days when she passed away on 4 August 1997.
Now then, there is a "debatable" guy who makes the above ‘supercentarians’ seem like youngsters. Zaro Aga, born 16 Feb 1764 (claimed) and died 29 June 1934.
Yes, that would have made him reach 170 years and 133 days old when he died. Although, according to the death certificate provided by his Turkish doctor, Zaro Aga's age was 157. Zaro died in Istanbul although some confusion about the place of death exists, probably because the body was sent to the US right after his death. However, an investigative report published by Walter Bowerman in 1939 indicated that Zaro Aga was around 97, not 157.
Why do people lie about their age, one wonders?
According to "Plus Living" people lie about their age for a number of reasons. They say “It often boils down to the desire to manage how others perceive us.” In some cultures, youth is associated with attractiveness, vitality, and opportunity, in others eyes age and particularly old age give an air of wisdom to those around them. Age and ageism in recent times has been one of those taboo subjects such as nowadays one doesn’t need to put one’s age on a curriculum vitae.
Age can be a sensitive topic, and people may lie to avoid negative stereotypes or age-related anxieties. This could include concerns about diminishing physical or cognitive abilities, or the fear of being seen as “past it.”
On the other hand just go into buy a birthday card and you will find many insulting cards about how old you are now.
Some say, age is just a number, but what about if you forget the number ? There is an advert going around at the moment about dementia and in it, a man delivering the eulogy at his mother's funeral refers to her dying “again, and again and again” during her slow decline from dementia. She “didn't die once”, he said, as she forgot how to make her legendary roast dinner and couldn't remember his name as she degenerated. This advert has been divisive and has set complaints to media watchdogs but one other fact to emerge this week is that Alzheimer’s is the leading cause of death in the UK – a statistic only known by one in 10 people in the UK according to the Alzheimer’s Society. They say that one person in three born today will get dementia.
So I am in my sixties, probably not going to get to be supercentarian, how old do you want to be anyway ?
My tips are to enjoy yourself, keep doing things you enjoy, if you love doing the washing every week then do that, do even simple activities like watching sports with a friend or spend some time with your family or even the wife while she scrolls away whilst Alexis MacAlister of Liverpool scores probably one of the goals of the season, but pays attention when Luke Littler hits his double ten.
Have a soak in the bath, or hot tub (if you got one), meet up with friends, (if you got any) for coffee or a fish finger sandwich - all these things can improve your day.
Doing something you're good at, reading, writing or even your job, spend time with your kids do some cooking or dancing, but the bottom line is to keep, busy and use your brain.
All important ways to enjoy yourself and oh get that feeling of having a sense of achievement. If you have any things that you do that might help the "drag" of "getting old" without taking any drugs of course, let me know, on vincetaylor9@aol.com.
I could add to smile and listen to your favourite songs or radio. Complete that jigsaw or watch Arsenal? - no second thoughts that might stretch enjoyment a little too far !!
Poem (oh to be so young again)
The day breaks, again, my mind aches
I’m up and thinking, what to do today
But rain stops play, I’m overthinking?
It’s Saturday, not Sunday, I can’t wait for Monday
That’s another day, to earn my pay
But the computer's not blinking
So what to do, maybe read a novel, cry some tears may feature
It’s a Dan Brown or another Lee Child and now
I’m Robert Langdon or maybe Jack Reacher?
But then I realise my fears will grow...
It’s Tuesday, another snooze day
Doing the crossword, thinking what’s that word?
I’ve never heard, and hey, the brain's still learning.
On Wednesday, I put my pens away
Do some exercise, coz they say it’s wise
To keep the doctor at bay!
So what do I do next, I might try and text
My daughter Catherine, but, she’s on “do not disturb”
And I haven’t heard from Rachel either
Not so much a text and hardly a word
So what do I do, now here comes Ollie,
he always rings me once or twice a week 😄
Talking the talk, about customs, and when his Arsenal
Will be beat - "probably next unless the Spurs are just as weak!"
It’s Thursday, then Friday,
the wife is work from home on my day
We know how the next week starts, so we watch the darts
Seeing Littler at seventeen -oh to be so young and green!!