Are You Finished When You Reach 80.

[Enoch Mort]

Oh heck, only 3 years to go then.

Looking at the list given above:

- not smoking
- not taking alcohol
- a healthy diet
- keeping yourself physically active
- mentally active
- socially connected

I can tick all six at the moment. I do find that my memory is deteriorating though, in as much as I often do know the answer but it takes longer to recall it which can be very frustrating, hence I would be hopeless in quizzes like "The Chase"!

I can tick 5 other than my alcohol intake which is negligible. I identify with your point about speed of recall. Quizzes like The Chase are a young persons game. I'm not as quick as I once was although I'm still quite handy at Pub Quizzes as you get time to consider. Quizzes are part of my staying "mentally active"

[Gofer Blue]

I can tick 5 other than my alcohol intake which is negligible. I identify with your point about speed of recall. Quizzes like The Chase are a young persons game. I'm not as quick as I once was although I'm still quite handy at Pub Quizzes as you get time to consider. Quizzes are part of my staying "mentally active"

I agree - if I am given time to think then I'm not so bad! Do you find that there are occasions when trying to recall somebody's name it just won't come and then later in a completely different setting it suddenly comes to mind for no apparent reason?

[the other bob wilson]

I agree - if I am given time to think then I'm not so bad! Do you find that there are occasions when trying to recall somebody's name it just won't come and then later in a completely different setting it suddenly comes to mind for no apparent reason?

That happens to me a lot.

[the other bob wilson]

Well i was born on 17/8/1933 and there is no way I think I am finished, I have lymphoma and bladder cancer and according to the hospital, I am making good progress.

I have 3 children and 26 grandchildren including great-grandchildren who keep me occupied, my wife passed away 3 years ago at 86 yrs old but was very active till her death, I just came back from holiday with 16 family members in Salou Spain, we are going on a caravan holiday with 20 of the family to celebrate my granddaughters 45th birthday next month, have booked a holiday to Benidorm next May with 25 family members, and if any bargains come up between now and then we will take them. I have recently joined a men's shed, so that it keeps me with something to do, and looking forward to the school holidays to spend time with all the great-grandchildren

Your City knowledge is excellent as well

[Gofer Blue]

You must be in a small percentage of people of do. May you hit a hundred, good man. Can I ask - does doing the above six get harder into your 60s and 70s, easier, or no different?

I haven't smoked or drunk alcohol since my late 20's so those two factors haven't been relevant for 50 years or so. The healthy diet aspect has improved as I've got older and is easier to maintain with age. I try to walk as much as possible and we do have a treadmill and a cross trainer at home but I confess I don't use these as much as I could as I find it boring!

Mentally I am definitely on the decline since I retired from my job as a pharmaceutical consultant - this was a very busy and stressful job with up to 20 different projects on the go at any one time and with every client thinking that his/her project was top priority, it kept me on my toes mentally! I find it more difficult to concentrate as I get older like trying to follow a complex plot in a film or TV drama for example.

I am not a particularly sociable person so a lack of social connections has never been much of an issue. That said, I obviously have lots of connections via my Christian network of friends primarily, so I would definitely miss those if that was taken away. As I get older obviously I have more free time to meet people than when I was working.

[Rontomuk]

I agree - if I am given time to think then I'm not so bad! Do you find that there are occasions when trying to recall somebody's name it just won't come and then later in a completely different setting it suddenly comes to mind for no apparent reason?

I mentioned this to the doctor on Thursday when I had a checkup in Llandough, he said it is called Brain Fog, and the best way to control it is by doing quizzes or memory tests

[Rontomuk]

Your City knowledge is excellent as well

I enjoy your seven decades quizzes, as I said previously they keep my mind active, so thanks a lot

[Enoch Mort]

I agree - if I am given time to think then I'm not so bad! Do you find that there are occasions when trying to recall somebody's name it just won't come and then later in a completely different setting it suddenly comes to mind for no apparent reason?

Sadly, yes. I've been setting a weekly pub quiz for a number of years so actually competing is limited but actually figuring out orginal questions is good exercise for the grey matter

[MacAdder]

I enjoy your seven decades quizzes, as I said previously they keep my mind active, so thanks a lot

I'm not surprised, you have a distinct advantage of getting these right over the rest of us!