Grumpy old men

Being grumpy was the topic under debate at last week’s Forty Club meeting. The speaker, Chris Gosling, outlined some things that make him grumpy, rooms with too much echo, sofas that are too low and slippery shampoo bottles. He said these all show how design was more important than practicality. Chris admires Victor Meldrew and Alf Garnett who were masters of grumpiness and made it comical.

If you Google ‘grumpy’ you will find there are fewer websites for old men than old women and they are not just about the British.

Young people feel invincible until the teenage years of boredom and low self-esteem. As we get older we get more introverted and less aggressive, more anxious, suffer insomnia and memory loss. We are physically weaker, have less energy and virility, but we should not be stigmatised for these natural developments.

On the internet you can enter your lifestyle details into a ‘Death Clock’ website that will calculate when you are most likely to die. Chris tried this and had varying results from a startling ‘next year’ to ‘at least a decade away’. The average life expectancy in the North of England is 77.8 years. Muscle weakness and balance loss are the biggest problems for the elderly resulting in falls and broken bones.

Chris said we must keep fit, use it or lose it. He concluded his talk by playing the song ‘Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life’ and telling members to seize and live for the day.

Chris’s grumpy yet humorous delivery of his topic made other members recall what makes them grumpy. Everyone agreed that we all have a grumpy side. Mr Oldham gave the vote of thanks saying ‘at least none of us fell asleep!’

Tonight’s meeting is an impromptu using magazine articles. Call 01723 354813 for more details.