Friday 19 September 2014

Wearing Purple

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple

 by Jenny Joseph


Me at the Steam Rally

When we went to the Steam Rally on the last Bank Holiday, it tipped down with rain on the Monday. So much so that I bought a hat off the hat stall. I've always fancied wearing a red hat and had a bit of a laugh with the stall holder about the saying that goes with it.  Growing old? Yep. I've arrived and loving every minute.

34 comments:

  1. Who says red and purple don't go together? I'm going to go out and rattle my cane along the pickets now...just for the halibut.

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    1. And wave it at all those inconsiderate drivers, who park anywhere and haven't got a minute to live.

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    1. I don't think I could go along with all of it, but being old enough to be who I am is pretty good.

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  3. Red, purple, chartreuse, neon yellow, we can wear them all now. Age allows that. Isn't it great that we have reached this "free to be me" time of life.

    Molly, that is the perfect hat for you. You look marvelous!

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    1. Thank you for both your comments Arleen. O/H was horrified I'd put that picture up but truth is truth ain't it.

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  4. Lovely hat - that was a slightly different version of the poem to the ones I have heard previously. Trust you are well - you look it.

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    1. Thanks Sue. Love the pictures of your walks.

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  5. I shall try hard to be a male version of JJ's character.

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  6. I've been in training for years, red and pruple are my favourite colours for clothes. Since moving to Glastonbury, my clothes have become even more bright and colourful (no surprise there LOL).

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    1. I love bright colours too. Red is one of my favourites.

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  7. Well Molly I can,t think of anything better than growing old disgracefully - is there any other way ! I love purple and red and I think they go together very well - so there we are - I am as mad as an hatter methinks - err is that spelt correctly!! xx

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    1. If they can look good on fuchsias then why not :)

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  8. Molly, you look great - and I adore red and purple. I have always enjoyed that poem and now that I am into my sixties I revel in doing some of those things...spitting is not one of them, though! ;)

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    1. Elaine thank you. I definitely think I'd pass on the spitting too (YUK) Don't think I could eat three pounds of sausage either.

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  9. We'll the red hat certainly suits you, you look great!
    I'm presuming you were wearing knickers since you were already attired before you bought the hat; next time maybe?

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  10. Purple looks good on you. Not everyone can wear a hat but you can. Nice to chat-I have been away for a long time, olive

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  11. Oh Olive, thank you. I love reading your blog. So glad you're back.

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  12. Go Molly Girl!!

    I found your post 'We Walk in a Shadow' very moving. We spent last week in the Somme Region of France and visited the WWI Memorial at Thiepval. The experience will stay with me forever ..

    Jeanne
    x

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    1. Hello Jeanne. Thank you for your comment. I don't dread ageing any more. There are lots of things that you can't do, but so many more that you can. I think I would aspire to be a mixture of Judi Dench, Helen Mirren and Julie Walters - they have aged so well. Your Somme visit must have been very moving. When I was writing the shadows post I looked up Wikipedia for some information. What broke my heart was the list of young men who had been shot for cowardice when we know now that they were suffering from shell shock. the pain for them and their families must have been so intense.

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  13. Lovely photo, Molly and I really like that poem. I have a purple anorak and take great delight in wearing it with my red hat in winter. :-)

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    1. Thank you P. Love the photo of you in your sister's hat as well :)

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  14. Your darling Molly! Yes, we must embrace getting older.....I sure wouldn't want to go back!!

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  15. You look wonderful in the purple with a stylish red hat to top it off! Great picture.

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    1. Oh Amy, thank you. I think I aspire to be Grandmother Carrie. Loving your book xx

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  16. I wish I had had the confidence to wear what I liked when I was younger, but it is very welcome now. Just one of the pleasures of increasing maturity. You look lovely in your red hat though.

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  17. Lovely picture! The older, the wiser!

    Sandra xXx

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