Ageing happens in cycles, attitudes ebb and flow and sometimes I trick myself into feeling redundant or worn out. Being a wage slave surrounded by ambitious young things doesn't help.

It's easy to get sucked in to simple solutions. Creams, potions, lotions, drops and oils. The real solution is keeping creative, and staying involved with life. I didn't use anything til my late 40s, when I spent a bit of time putting whitening cream on my face, until I realised it was going red from hot flushes! (oops!)

The Australian sun is pretty tough, and I spent a lot of time outdoors as a child, including in Darwin, and so have very sun damaged skin. I went grey prematurely, and my hair which was dark brown has gone through the various stages of grey to .. mostly white! I occasionally put light pink or blonde in it if I'm feeling creative. :-)

I find it interesting watching how my friends age - dealing with it psychologically. Most of them are pretty inspiring. A fantastic woman lives next door. She's in her late 70s and looks like an Amazon. Over six foot, athletic, she's an artist and has lived a very interesting life including living in Papua New guinea in a grass hut for some years with her husband and daughters. They also lived on a boat for a few years sailing up and down the coast of Queensland. Last year she had an exhibition of her art in a big gallery in the city. On the weekend we had a neighbourhood cleanup and she was just as involved as any of us, lifting and moving unwanted stuff onto the truck. She has a strong, tanned handsome face, and a lovely smile. My brother in law is in his 80s. He is a big, strong man and sailed alone til a couple of years ago. A retired farmer, he is also an artist and still painting. Last year he auctioned some of his paintings to raise money for the Pakistani flood vistims - he sent across a check for $28,000.

I admire people like this and hope I can keep as fit and functional as they are at their age.