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JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
My wife and I spent a year in England to be near our daughter and her husband. I'm a bored old critter so I decided to look for work. I'm an avid gardener so applied to be a nurseryman. No luck--too old. I guess they thought that carrying plants might be a chore for a fifty-nine year old! Then I applied for a job in PR. Surely my years as a principal might convince them that I had PR skills. No---59 year olds might fall and have an accident while successfully selling an idea. An application to be a hedge-measurer was turned down too even though I love hedges. I love animals so I applied to be an animal inspector. No chance. Animals bite old people. Ambulance driving (taking old people to hospital and back),came next. It would have been a wonderful chance to show off both my PR and driving skills (driver for 40 years). Not a chance in heaven. I can just see the selection committee at work:" He's been driving for 40 years--must be as blind as a bat." And: " He's driven all over Africa--not a good choice--probably thinks he's on the Dakar rally." I can visualise committee member Mrs Pemberton-Jones saying: " For God's sake, this man has been to Lesotho. You cannot equate that wild sort of life with Norwich!"
Thought I'd make a list of the skills I've learnt after the age of 50 just so older Joeusers can feel good about themselves. So here goes:
- I've learnt how to use Microsoft Word, Publisher and Excell. (we had no computers when I was at school).
- I can repair printer jam-ups.
- I can trace electrical faults to a Distribution board.
- I (ah yes), know the secrets of KY jelly.
- I know the correct way to transplant seedlings.
- I have every confidence in my ability to resolve conflict amongst staff.
- I can fix most photocopier jams.
- I can cook fillet steak and fries.
- I know about dogs and their diseases.
- I just know how to make my boss seem inadequate!
- I know how to Google! Yeah.
- I know what the word "gay" means.
- I know what a "motherboard" is.
- I take no sides in arguments. Why should I when I know I'm right.
- (and, seriously):The greatest skill I have learnt is to praise young people because they appreciate it and it inspires them.
Oh well, we all get old but life is still great!
Thought I'd make a list of the skills I've learnt after the age of 50 just so older Joeusers can feel good about themselves. So here goes:
- I've learnt how to use Microsoft Word, Publisher and Excell. (we had no computers when I was at school).
- I can repair printer jam-ups.
- I can trace electrical faults to a Distribution board.
- I (ah yes), know the secrets of KY jelly.
- I know the correct way to transplant seedlings.
- I have every confidence in my ability to resolve conflict amongst staff.
- I can fix most photocopier jams.
- I can cook fillet steak and fries.
- I know about dogs and their diseases.
- I just know how to make my boss seem inadequate!
- I know how to Google! Yeah.
- I know what the word "gay" means.
- I know what a "motherboard" is.
- I take no sides in arguments. Why should I when I know I'm right.
- (and, seriously):The greatest skill I have learnt is to praise young people because they appreciate it and it inspires them.
Oh well, we all get old but life is still great!
