You know you're middle aged when

[rafletcher]

You mention Formica to a (much younger) colleague, and they say “what’s that?” 

[Cudzoziemiec]

So you explain to them about the extraterrestrial invasions of the 1950s:


Formica UFO or "flying saucer"


Melamine ant which arrived on earth as a passenger on the Formica UFO.

[TheLurker]

You mention Formica to a (much younger) colleague, and they say “what’s that?”

You can really confuse the little darlings when you start talking about counterpanes instead of duvets. 

[Basil]

I still occasionally refer to 'cross
bars'.
I mean, how can you give a crozzie on a top tube?

[PhilO]

Oy! I still call 'em 'cross bars', and I'm...

er...

Ok. As you were... 

[rafletcher]

You mention Formica to a (much younger) colleague, and they say “what’s that?”

You can really confuse the little darlings when you start talking about counterpanes instead of duvets. 

I'll try with eiderdown first I think!

[andrewc]

Cellular blankets..... are those 4G or 5G ? 


Oh wow!  You can still buy them.  https://www.thewoolcompany.co.uk/products/wool-cellular-blanket

[Wowbagger]

Cellular blankets..... are those 4G or 5G ? 


Oh wow!  You can still buy them.  https://www.thewoolcompany.co.uk/products/wool-cellular-blanket

In our day we all buggered off to Brentford Nylons and bought our blankets for £notalot. I've forgotten whether I bought some for my house at college - I probably did - and they may well have transferred themselves into our married life. We certainly had some. I think the originals were blue, but I seem to recall that there were some lemon yellow ones as well.

Edit: Jan tells me the yellow ones arrived with us from my parents' house. I think we may still have them.

[Kim]

Oh wow!  You can still buy them.  https://www.thewoolcompany.co.uk/products/wool-cellular-blanket

Cor, I used to suck my thumb with one of those when I was a small.

[robgul]

Cellular blankets..... are those 4G or 5G ? 


Oh wow!  You can still buy them.  https://www.thewoolcompany.co.uk/products/wool-cellular-blanket

In our day we all buggered off to Brentford Nylons and bought our blankets for £notalot. I've forgotten whether I bought some for my house at college - I probably did - and they may well have transferred themselves into our married life. We certainly had some. I think the originals were blue, but I seem to recall that there were some lemon yellow ones as well.

Edit: Jan tells me the yellow ones arrived with us from my parents' house. I think we may still have them.

Brentford Nylons - a real rave from the grave - remember the TV ad for them where Alan Fluff Freeman drove an open-top Triumph Stag up onto the top of the Brentford Nylons building on the Great West Road? - and the very shiny Bri-nylon bed sheets.   

Ah, nostalgia,

[Jaded]

https://youtu.be/Jwl82kcFHZE

[robgul]

https://youtu.be/Jwl82kcFHZE

Brilliant - I hadn't got round to searching the tube - it had to be there!

. . . I assume the "mail order" terms were to send your cheque or postal order and allow 28 days for delivery?

. . . and while we're on old ads I was reminded of the Scotcade ads that first appeared in the Sunday Times in the late 60s/early 70s for all sorts of "luxury" items.  [I'm sure someone is going to find some images of them]

[T42]

I remember the ads from before that with Alan Freeman plugging Omo: "even white nylon stays white". And the ould bugger plucking at his own shirt to imply that he wore the stuff, though I can't imagine he'd tolerate it for more than 5 minutes after the shoot.

[Mr Larrington]

[T42]

^^^ aye, and burnt-in TV screens.

[Regulator]

Cellular blankets..... are those 4G or 5G ? 


Oh wow!  You can still buy them.  https://www.thewoolcompany.co.uk/products/wool-cellular-blanket

Cellular blankets are still widely used in the NHS.

[alfapete]

...you excitedly explain your analogy for the climate crisis being the final scene from Thelma and Louise. And the assembled young adults look blankly back at you - they'd not even HEARD of the film, less still were they familiar with the final scene.

[rafletcher]

You work out what the £10 payment from the DWP was all about.

[robgul]

You work out what the £10 payment from the DWP was all about.

I may be missing something here . . .  a quick Google suggests that the DWP £10 is payable if you receive the State Pension  .. . .   is that correct? 

I receive State Pension as my only "benefit"  (and have a letter saying I'm getting £500 Winter Fuel Allowance although I've not seen the money yet) . . . should I get the £10?  (I don't recall getting it in previous years - I can't access bank stuff before Jan 23 at the moment to check)

[Tod28]

Yes, if you are in receipt of state pension.

[Blazer]

You know you are middle aged when you think the winner of Sports Personality of the Year forgot to put a top on over her underwear

[chrisbainbridge]

You know you are middle aged when you think the winner of Sports Personality of the Year forgot to put a top on over her underwear

😂😂

[robgul]

Yes, if you are in receipt of state pension.

Thanks - perhaps it dribbled through my bank account in the past and I didn't notice in previous years - I shall keep an eye out for this year (no sign yet)

[Kim]

Yes, if you are in receipt of state pension.

Thanks - perhaps it dribbled through my bank account in the past and I didn't notice in previous years - I shall keep an eye out for this year (no sign yet)

They're usually accompanied by a Scary Brown Envelope™.  Though if you're a pensioner rather than someone living in fear of sanctions/investigations/re-assessments, that may not have the same salience when it arrives on your doorstep.

[jsabine]

Yes, if you are in receipt of state pension.

Thanks - perhaps it dribbled through my bank account in the past and I didn't notice in previous years - I shall keep an eye out for this year (no sign yet)

You should have had it a couple of weeks ago I think - try between 4th and 8th of December