Old age is a bugger but, as I am often told, the alternative is not great.
Eyesight, hearing, creaks and cracks all over the body are just par for the course as I push towards 70.
On eyesight, I have noticed that my long-range is starting to go. I now see crocodiles in the distance that turn out to be logs, windmills that are trees, people sitting on the beach that are dogs. You get the gist.
All part of that ageing process, I am told. A process that has me now questioning the reflection every time I walk into the bottle shop and see an old man, coincidentally dressed exactly like me (but he is way older with bandy legs), staring back from the store mirror.
I have also been told by health professionals that at my age, I shouldn’t be running, ever!
Of course, that piece of advice was originally disputed, but after a torn Achilles and bankrolling a specialist to stick multiple needles into me, I started to agree.
As I am a slow learner and have an extremely short memory, once that improved I resumed running, which continued for quite a while, depending on my mood and my laziness meter.
I started losing some weight (plenty to lose) and found jogging good for my head as well, despite the snickering from folks who overtook me and George, the famous Wurtulla body surfing bitsa who is my personal trainer.
George runs in front with a ball. When he thinks I have run far enough, he stops and drops the ball and I throw it into the surf and walk until he passes me and then it all starts again. Strangely, as I get fatigued, he runs further away.
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So, to draw a picture for you, it probably resembles Cliff Young shuffling along the beach chasing a dog – only slower.
This was all going well until something bizarre happened. I pulled something I never knew I had – a hamstring! After 68 years, I found out I had one! When I played football, I thought I was hamstring exempt.
I am currently walking with a limp and have a dog who, like most people I know, is disappointed with me.
And that mirror?
Maybe I need to stop going into that place or just stop looking.
Ashley Robinson is chairman of the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Sunshine Coast Thunder Netball, and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.
