Confirmation – I must look old.

‘It’s no good all this pretence. There comes a time when telling oneself that maybe other people get old but it’s not going to happen to you and that it is pure coincidence that policeman are getting younger only because they are recruiting more, no longer convinces. Unfortunaely for me … that day has come.

‘I have the builders in. Except that they are out, redoing my patio.
But the electric socket they are using is in. Until they blew it … and all the electricity in the house too.
I tore downstairs as my computer – and my precious new book – Book 3 of a trilogy – went black.
‘We’re so sorry, water got into the cable.’
No excuse, those things might happen to me but young men cannot use clumsiness or forgetfulness as an excuse.
I go towards the kitchen ready to flip the cut-out switch on the fuse.
I then position a stool ready to climb on to it.
Young builder – eying his dirty boots which need to be removed before traipsing over my carpet. ‘Would you like me to come round to the front of the house and do that for you?’
Immediate rush of conflicting emotions:
Yes, it was good of him to offer. What a very considerate young man.
No, it was totally and insultingly unthinking to imply that I look as if I am far too old to climb on a stool.
I stretched to my full height.

‘I can manage quiet easily,’ I said with dignity, eyeing a nearby radiator and doorknob on which to lean while I climbed up.