Thanks all, even I wasn't sure what I was getting at when I started this thread. Lots of you are happy in your bones whatever your age, and good luck to you.

But I think Eliza came closest to what was puzzling me when she said she's exactly the same age as John Spiers but he's a 'young musician' and she's 'old guard'. But at least they have both served their apprenticeships and become top class performers, unlike some musicians of a similar age from whom we seem to accept less because they are perceived as young and new (even if they're not). I was just curious to know how we decide when to expect better of the latter category.