Frybabe - it is just the same here. Jobs are for the young, and experience is largely irrelevant. Our Council has even launched (with its non-existent budget that doesn't allow it to grit roads, buy library books or provide music tuition) an "over 50s festival" - I ask you!!! I am not yet at the stage of wanting to spend my days making baskets and going to tea dances - and my mother, aged 82, feels just the same. Bring back the real services and stop all this patronising nonsense is what we say (unheard, of course, as also invisible).
I am in the fortunate position of being able to manage without a "proper" job for a little while, and I do a bit of freelancing for my old firm and for another guy. Although my income is substantially less, the fact that I actually get paid with a real cheque in my hands (rather than a bank transfer) somehow makes it more exciting (sad I know). When we move we are planning to buy something cheaper and get rid of the remains of our mortgage at last, which will take some of the money pressure off. I have found over these past months that it is so good to have some time to yourself - there are so many things to do in this life, and we pass this way but once, as they say. I'm sure you'll get so much out of your Latin studies.
Having said that, I fully appreciate that unemployment is not a financial option for many, many people, and the whole ageism thing is terrible. My mother has always bristled at being called "dear" in shops - now it is happening to me and I can see exactly what she means. If only we had had the wisdom of age when we were young - although I think the difference now is that many young people think they do have it - whereas at their age I had no confidence whatsoever. My children appear, for better or worse, to have grown up like me - I do wish they had a bit more confidence, but I'm glad they're not as full of themselves as some youngsters.
Rosemary
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