The final proper day of the holidays as Mrs Plug returns to college tomorrow. We got up at the crack of lunch and wandered off to the exotic emporium that we know and love as the Arndale Centre in Luton. They have rebranded it as "The Mall", but it will forever be known as the Arndale to us. The few hours spent there were frustrating on two counts really. Firstly, I was unsuccessful in buying some shoes. I am nearly 45 and there has to come a point where I have to grow up. I'm not really sure at what point this needs to happen, will there be some form of notification from the Police I wonder? I am clearly still young and beautiful, but i may have to face facts, give in, and treat myself to a nice pair of brogues one day soon. I also have to make the rather humiliating admission that the main inspiration behind my intended purchase was that fact that my feet have been feeling a little cold. I think it is just the galloping of time really. The second frustration however was the level of rudeness we encountered whilst shopping. I am disappointed to note that the majority of it was from the elderly ladies who we met walking in the opposite direction, who seemed to just put their heads down and walk quickly and with purpose towards us. I wonder if this blog has revealed a sudden realisation of my impending agedness?
One of the family discussions over the holiday period was about appearances, and in particular the subject of "Letting oneself go". This was not about either me or my direct family, and the identity is not important or relative, but it has made me consider the whole concept of my appearance and whether I need to grow old gracefully or not. I do have every intention of continuing the work from last year on my fitness and making more use of the gym equipment we have, but it has made me think about the variety of "Images" I have employed over the years, and what I was trying to achieve either consciously or unconsciously. I wonder, for example what I was trying to say with my Mohican look? Are my current flowing locks the result of my trying to look windswept, Artistic and interesting. My experience tells me that most middle aged men with long hair usually wear it that way as it is the only interesting thing about them. This is not a comforting thought really. Is the current seeming obsession with appearance as facile and uninteresting as we all make it out to be? I for example, spend much of my time telling actors that they can truly inhabit the character they are playing when they are wearing the correct costume. This must also surely be true of our every day clothing and hair? I feel more confident wearing certain things. I have no idea why I am thinking of such things...perhaps it is the time of year?
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