Do I have to admit my age?

Today is my birthday and so far it's going rather well. Dan and I went out to breakfast, and whilst we were eating I was simultaneously having my car valeted a few doors away - now how's that for self-indulgent Weybridge house-wife kind of living?

Christian was on MSN messenger nice and early to wish me a nice day, and he and Victoria sent me one of the rudest birthday cards I think I've ever seen!! I've had lots of lovely cards, and a few electronic birthday greetings via e mail. I've also received two of the biggest bunches of flowers ever, so much so that my living room now resembles Kew Gardens!!! I've been given some lovely gifts, from my favourite shop (the Pier), and also John Lewis and Habitat gift vouchers (yippee).

Now thatI'm 43 years old I've decided that I'm at that age where a lady (she's a lady?) no longer has to admit her age. I can deny it altogether, fib about it, start counting backwards, or as my Grandma Rosina used to do when asked her age ...say "I'm as old as my tongue and a little bit older than my teeth!" Although I have to say, when she's asked about her age nowadays she proudly admits that she's well into her nineties because she loves it when people respond with, "Well, you don't look a day over 85!!" You can see her glow with pride and begin to preen!!

ObviouslyGovernment officials will still have to be told the truth should they enquire, but I think everybody else will just have to be left guessing !!!!

The best answer when asked your age is to say "How old do you think I am?" and then the person who asked is duty bound to knock about 4-5 years off just to make sure that should they get it wrong they have erred on the side of caution and nobody gets upset!!!

I'm actually looking foward to being really old so that I can grimace and chunter at young people and hit them on the legs with my walking stick when they refuse to give me their seat on the bus!!! Bliss!!