[Jayne Osborn]

John,
That woman who teaches chavs and chavettes could be me - if they'd asked me first - humph!
Far more rewarding (in more than one sense) to write about teaching than to do it; what a sad indictment of our education system, eh?

Sorry, that sounds like the beginnings of a 'Rant'...(that's another Oldie column I enjoy, and could also write; God knows, I get enough practice!

[Roger Slater]

Sleeper

The man behind me in the theater, snoring,
confirms my own harsh judgment: this is boring.
A famous critic known for smart reviews,
tomorrow he will write 'this was a snooze.'
But few will understand his categorical
and glib dismissal wasn't metaphorical.
He meant just what he said, make no mistake.
His snoring, not the play, kept me awake.

[Jayne Osborn]

Bob,

Another masterpiece - right on the money!

('theatre' here, of course - 'cos we can't, like, spell proper, innit?)

[Peter Wyton]

John, you can get in trouble loving women teachers. I've read it in the papers, so it must be true. Personally, I make straight for 'Not many dead'. Cracking read.

[basil ransome-davies]

Jayne - I don't read the Oldie, though I may do so when the need for a stairlift & incontinence pants arises - those ads keep it going - & I treat my weekly/monthly comp entries as ephemera to keep a curb on my vanity. And while I am certainly old, I don't wish to be addressed by a mag as if it's the most important thing about me.

[Jayne Osborn]

Sorry, sent it twice.

[Jayne Osborn]

Bazza,
I'm not 'old' but I could have done with a stairlift today! I managed to twist my back somehow, and going upstairs is painful.

The Oldie - Yes, I find some people are dismayed by the name. Whenever I'm telling someone about it, I always feel the need to qualify it with: "Oh, don't worry - it's not like People's Friend."

Just how, exactly, does one define 'old'? Age is just a number. I know plenty of 'old' people who haven't reached forty yet!

[Roger Slater]

No, age is not just a number. And life is not just a greeting card.