The real signs of ageing

I have a friend who is way into her forties who only admits to being thirty-four. It can be so confusing judging age these days that I think many of us could get away with an age anywhere within about a 10 year range, some even more.  One can be craggy-looking at 34 and fabulous at 44. The number of stunning 50-60 year olds I've met is simply quite daunting.

Still with an 11 year old daughter I figure I can only get away with being 34 until she is about 15 before I start getting asked tricky questions.  That is unless my daughter is prepared to lower her age as well.

Even if my daughter is complicit in my plans there are a number of tell-tale signs starting to show that will foil them.  I call these the REAL signs of ageing.

First, I've bought my first moisturiser with the name "Riche" in the title.  Nothing so tell-tale as a woman who needs a little extra hydration on her skin during the day. 

Second, while reading the other night I noticed that I've started holding my book a little further away than usual. When did that happen?  A girl can't pretend to be 34 while holding her book a metre away from her face.

Third, I recently spent an evening tut tutting about the content of the music videos the young are watching these days.

Fourth, I've started considering 9.30pm a late bedtime. Seriously.  I've been putting it down to exhaustion at work but I think it's really a sign of getting old.  Not only do I feel like going to bed at 9.30pm, I look forward to it all evening.  Soon I'll be going to bed before the kids. Maybe I could get them to read me a bedtime story.

So as I pop off to bed at 9.30pm with my Hydrance Optimale Riche moisturiser on and my large print book ready on my bedside table, pausing only to shout "turn down that terrible noise!" to the teenagers next door, I ask myself When did that happen?

Sigh.