The stereotypes of old age run from the smiling old dear to the grumbling curmudgeon. In fiction, they are rife – indeed fiction is perhaps mainly responsible for the standard perception of the old, with just a few writers able to raise the game. Muriel Spark's Memento Mori is a black comedy, with a group of elderly people plagued by sinister phone calls: "Remember you must die." No stereotypes, but a bunch of sharply drawn individuals, convincingly old, bedevilled by specific ailments, and mainly concerned with revisions of their pasts in terms of will-making and the machinations of relationships. Kingsley Amis also went for comedy, in Ending Up, with a group cohabiting in a cottage and busy scoring points off each other – funny, but with a bleak undertone. Saul Bellow's Ravelstein is neither comedy (though not without humour) nor stereotype, but strong writing about the view both of and from old age. And he was old – 84 … [Read more...] about Penelope Lively: ‘So this is old age’
Famous 70 year olds
The chilling true stories behind Netflix’s Mindhunter including a murderous scout leader and the killer who slept with his victims’ corpses
A local man, Wayne Williams, was eventually arrested in connection to the murders after he was caught dumping what police believed to be a body in a river. … [Read more...] about The chilling true stories behind Netflix’s Mindhunter including a murderous scout leader and the killer who slept with his victims’ corpses
Caitlyn Jenner reveals she called her kids to apologise after I’m a Celebrity
The days of living a lie are behind her now, Caitlyn said: "It may take me a little longer in the morning to get ready, but I wake up and can be myself all day. I'm so much more comfortable in my own skin than I was before. … [Read more...] about Caitlyn Jenner reveals she called her kids to apologise after I’m a Celebrity
10 of the best places to stay in Italy for foodies
Pensione Tranchina, Sicily Marisin Tranchina is not the sort of person you expect to find running a pensione near Palermo. Tall, chatty and Chinese, she grew up in Panama (hence her good English) and met Salvatore when he was working over there. Nearly three decades ago, she breezed in to the fishing village of Scopello and together, she and Salvatore took over his father’s inn on the piazza. Today it is a foodie mecca, with 10 simple, great-value rooms. Breakfasts feature different homemade jams every day, bread still warm from the bakery next door, and their own olive oil to dip it in. But it is the set four-course dinners that get people talking: there’s no choice and the menu changes every day. There’s not even much point asking in the morning what might be for dinner: it will depend on what Salvatore’s fishermen friends have caught out at sea that day. Highlights for me were pasta with trapanese pesto (made from tomatoes and almonds), and whole sea bream … [Read more...] about 10 of the best places to stay in Italy for foodies
Vladimir Putin grabs power ‘for LIFE’: Russian President sets himself up to rule FOREVER by announcing sweeping ‘constitutional changes’ as entire government RESIGNS to clear his path
Last year Nursultan Nazarbayev, Putin's close ally in the oil-rich former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, retired after holding the presidency since 1990. He became head of a 'guiding' security council and, to emphasise he was still in charge, the capital was renamed Nursultan in his honour. … [Read more...] about Vladimir Putin grabs power ‘for LIFE’: Russian President sets himself up to rule FOREVER by announcing sweeping ‘constitutional changes’ as entire government RESIGNS to clear his path
