You know you’re getting old
When your feet are always cold,
When your hair grows from your ears and not your head.

You know you’re getting on
When you climb stairs one by one,
When ten is late enough to go to bed.

You know you’re slowing down
When slipping into town
Is a trip you have to contemplate for days?

You know you’re getting frail
When a ‘belly full of ale’
Is a whisky and a glass of lemonade?

You know you’re really sad
When you don’t feel so bad,
If a mobile phone is not something you need.

You know you’re out of touch
When you have to say ‘How much’!
At any price that’s over 50p.

But why wish for newer blood
When it makes you feel so good,
To think yourself experienced and wise?

When you’ve seen it all before,
It’s nice to close the door,
And leave the troubled world to younger guys.

George Heymans,
Bebington, Wirral.