But of course I lie about my age, it’s one of the plusses of being a female; being cagey about your age. Unfortunately, it fools no-one because as soon as you say something like, ‘I never tell my age’ or, ‘Age is just a number’ you’re done for. People immediately think, ‘she’s over 40/50/60 then.’ I found they started to closely inspect me, not something I wanted when hoping to head them off at the pass with my feeble excuses. So, now I just tell out and out porkies (porky pies, … lies …rhyming cockney slang) So, when I say ‘45’ they either think, ‘Yes, she could be….’ or they think something like ‘She’s obviously had a hard 45 years.’ I’m not ashamed of my age, but I honestly think we are judged on our life numbers when we should not be. Think, when was the last time you saw a newspaper or magazine article with the MAN’S age printed right at the start? Very rarely, but if it’s about any woman, the magic number is up there, sometimes on the leading lines. Therefore there’s no way I’ll give info out to those who specifically ask for it. Obviously, I tell the truth to doctors, or to the tax man or anything official, I’d be a fool otherwise, but for all others, I just think of a number and subtract 5,10 or if I’m being really silly, 15! (Now, if only I’d not told the children my real age!) lol.

Hello from Wales, UK. I picked up the Sunday Times this morning and read the article on this site and decided to jump in and join, and what’s the first discussion I see? The ‘I sometimes have tantrums’ one! Do you know, I don’t think I’ve ever had a full blown, throw my arms around and shout like mad tantrum. But perhaps I should, as the very idea is appealing. I guess your feelgood doctor lets you loose to vent your feelings in a safe environment, but just think what would happen if we decided that, instead of dress down day, or bring a dollar or pound to work for charity day, we’d have a ‘mini tantrum’ day. All women everywhere would be expected to be awkward or downright impossible for five minutes within that day. Oh, I love the idea, in fact, I think I’ll go for a walk into town now and see what the reaction to having ‘a little tizzy’ would be in someone over fifty. (I’m not serious, but how I wish I had the nerve.) Regards from Kate.