OOPS #14: The Long View WIGO member Penny Shepherd reflects on a lifetime spent thinking about ageing — shaped by growing up in a family where old age was always close at hand. Drawing on experiences of caring, loss, mutual support and work in social... Continue reading

OOPS #13: Wildflowers and Warm Eggs As we grow older, many of us begin to think differently about time — not simply how much of it we have left, but what it means to use it well. In this reflection, I explore the gradual shift... Continue reading

OOPS #12 Growing Older Is Not a Wellness Project As friends begin celebrating their seventieth birthdays, our guest OOPS-blogger Jenny Collieson reflects on what ageing really looks like — beyond the glossy language of “wellness”, “longevity” and “conscious ageing”. Drawing on family history, voluntary work... Continue reading

OOPS #11: I’m FINE Welcome to OOPS — our occasional reflections on the experience of getting older: what surprises us, what makes us pause and think, and what seems to matter more with each passing year. We say “I’m fine” to keep things simple. To... Continue reading

OOPS #10 Adventures in Lithuania   Welcome to OOPS — our occasional reflections on the experience of getting older: what surprises us, what makes us pause and think, and what seems to matter more with each passing year. WIGO member (and ex-colleague from Community Catalysts)... Continue reading

OOPS #9 NHS Bingo (and Other Identity Shifts) It turns out that navigating the healthcare system isn’t just about managing a condition—it’s also about holding on to a sense of who you are. Well, I’ve nearly completed my NHSE Bingo Card: five consultants, four specialisms,... Continue reading

OOPS #8 Now I Am Old: Adventures Without Ageism Introduction In our OOPS series, we often challenge assumptions about ageing—but sometimes the most powerful stories are the quiet, everyday ones that simply get it right. This guest reflection from WIGO member Margaret Turner, is a... Continue reading

OOPS #7: The Business of Growing Old Welcome to OOPS, my occasional reflections on the business of getting older — what catches me by surprise, what makes me think, and what seems to matter more with each passing year. This may feel like a less... Continue reading

OOPS #6 : I saw a hare this morning Welcome to OOPS, my occasional reflections on the business of getting older — what catches me by surprise, what makes me think, and what seems to matter more with each passing year. A sudden encounter with... Continue reading