I’m on Oapschat

 

Before you ask, it stands for Optimistic And Proactive Seniors Chat, not Old Aged Pensioner’s Chairs, Hats And Teapots.

It’s the brainchild of Jan Rosser who was disturbed by the lack of general sites for the over-55s. You can learn more of Jan’s thinking, HERE.

I found the site via Facebook and I felt right at home the moment I joined, but not because I particularly wanted to mix with people of my age group. I did, but my underlying reason for signing up was my antipathy to being patronised.

Regular readers will know that I don’t enjoy the best of health. I don’t blame anyone for that but me. If I’d taken better care of myself when I was younger, I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now. In fact, if I took better care of myself now, I wouldn’t suffer like I do. But aside from having the occasional moan on the blog, I don’t make a big deal out of it.

Other people do.

Admittedly, they’re well-intentioned, but we all know about the road to Hell, and when I have my hearing aids in and they shout like I’m either stone deaf or three hundred yards away, all it does is bombard said hearing aids with raw noise.

The contributors at Oapschat don’t patronise. The site offers sensible advice such as making aeroplane journeys more comfortable, the do’s and don’ts of mobility scooters, and there is a whole range of health tips, but the members also talk about the same things younger people talk about; TV, getting out for a few drinks, going on holiday. And when I say holiday, I don’t mean the nursing homes of Grange-over-Sands, I mean proper holidays: Cambodia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Israel. The only bloke you’ll find prattling about Filey and Scarborough is me.

I don’t know how or when you define ‘middle-age’ but just because you hit this hazy, ill-defined landmark, it doesn’t mean that’s it, your life is over, get hold of a bus pass and feed the ducks in the park every day as a way of passing the time between now and the Grim Reaper’s visit.

I plan on living to 150 just to spite everyone, and when I use the word ‘living’ I mean living. All right, so life in the fast lane might be too much for me, but I’m happy with the middle lane.

As I say in my latest piece on Oapschat, just because I’m 65, don’t assume that my knowhow ends with switching on the kettle.