Diary – 20 September 2003

I recently passed into a new decade. With this passing has come some rather surprising advantages, most of which are of a financial nature. My Senior Railcard, which costs £18 a year and gives me a discount on all trains, has already paid for itself handsomely. I would not have done anything about getting one had I not received a letter from the government telling me that I was entitled to it and also to a cash sum to help me with my heating bills during the winter. All this was very nice, but a message from a friend telling me that it is now more difficult to lose weight, impossible to run more than 50 yards without getting out of breath and, worst of all, impossible to persuade girls that your flirtation is anything other than a ‘good try’ brought the truth of the new age home with a bump.