The middle aged thread

Congrats. Welcome to the older dad's club.
Had my first at 42, second at 44. My oldest just finished reception, seriously I'm old enough to be the dad of some of the other dads.

I was very much relieved when i discovered there wasn't a dads race in the sports day programme earlier this year.

Age is no barrier to success. I was third in the dad’s race last year, aged 54, much to the delight of my Y5 daughter and her friends.

Is there a pre-retiring / just retired / not ready mentally / body-not-ready thread?

A grumparents thread?
The so-fucken-bliss-happy-biekGrandParents-t­hread?
I mean, I’m feeling faded but teeny-tiny grandkids on balance-machines et. al. must be a thing for others on here?

Just recently ticked this box. Retired and a Grandfather within a month.

The hard and worrying part is staying alive and fit enough to enjoy the Granddaughter growing up. Been visiting National Trust properties for practice walks, rides and cafe'ing in anticipation of the event. Need an offroad pram.

Congrats, my wife's dad got remarried and had another kid when he was 50. Apparently he was much better that time round 😂.

It's kept him super fit as well, he's knocking on 70 and could easily pass for 50.

Were you tested afterwards?

Cheers folks :)

I look about ten years younger, myself... Gonna need some good habits to start soon if it's to be anything more than skin deep though

I’ve been campaigning to change the dad’s race to one lap of the athletics track.

Reasons:

I’m shit at a 60metre sprint

You wouldn’t need heats, all the dads could run at once

I reckon I would at least make some of the other Dads puke if not have a heart attack. This would make my daughter proud of me.

#fit-shaming

Likewise - 42 & 45 for me. Not the oldest Dad in the class either.

40 and 43 here. Second oldest dad and I’m 90% certain I can win the parents race on sports day. We’re 2 sports days in now and they haven’t had one yet.

Make it ten laps on bikes, Superstars-style. The other dads would be like Kevin Keegan

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^ 'Don't lean!' shouts a voice from the crowd.

^ followed by, 'he leant'.

Whoah, looks like a motorbike doing a high side

I raced once at the sports day. When I lined up I had thought, I might be ok. But then I heard some of the chat between the dads who were 20 years younger than me. And the guy next to me and I realised “don’t embarrass yourself” was the objective.
There was lots of chanting my name from my daughter. Nerve wracking.
The guy and I made sure we came in together. The 20 year old kids were finished and still chatting nonsense at each other.

42 and 44 here… there’s a good mix of ages across class-mates Dad’s (grammar police, that doesn’t seem to scan correctly but nevermind) and I don’t feel too old in comparison.
No parent races at sports day to get apprehensive about, thankfully. Doesn’t seem like that kind of school.
Being an (slightly) older Dad seems to have benefits and drawbacks, much like most things! I do think there’s a ‘kids keep you young’ upside; even the incessant questions have helped re-engage with nature, noticing the little things etc.
The non-e-assist cargo bike is hard on the knees though

They only had Mum's races at my daughters first primary school, then nothing at the next one.

class-mates' dads

Much obliged

My first gig was The Birthday Party (supported by The Cocteau Twins) at The Venue in Victoria on 05/03/1982. I saw them a half dozen more times before they split up a year or two later, they changed my life. Not sure if it was for better or worse, but anyway.

I idolised Nick (and Rowland, and Tracey). I went to the first Nick Cave & the Cavemen shows and bought the first Bad Seeds singles but it just didn't hit the same. I blamed Nick for killing my favourite band and I hated him for it (totally unfairly, the real culprits were exposed in the recent Birthday Party documentary!). I eventually got over it but I didn't much like his solo stuff and found him to be a bit of a bore in general. I stopped caring.

But today I watched this new ABC interview with him and found it very touching. I think I may like him again. A bit. Age, and loss, have mellowed him. #csb

https://youtu.be/wXPIBFfA2Ho?feature=shared

Somehow I have tickets to see him in Cardiff later in the year.

Recently he was heading in the direction of Morrissey and having opinions for clicks…hopefully he’s wound his neck in

65 years old now and completed LEJOG a month ago. Back in the gym doing squats, presses, lifts etc. I'm not quick but I can look good going slow. I'll be in receipt of my state pension in 6 months. Does this mean I can't post on this thread?

Interesting timing. I've never even heard of them until I started watching a documentary about The Birthday Party last night. I've never liked Nick Cave's music but I like a music doco (watched a Billie Eilish one the other day and I think I only know one of her songs from an advert).

I think Bad Seeds stuff is all I know - Red Right Hand I've got on a Rage VHS tape from 30 years ago and that's about it. I think he did a duet with Kylie on something that was pretty popular but it's never been my music. I'll finish the documentary at some point anyway. Still got to finish the Beach Boys one.

the recent Birthday Party documentary

What what what!?! Did not know this existed, and now must track it down. Got into the Seeds stuff via Birthday Party, and was big fan until 4/5 albums back. Still go and see most tours tho, as my wife is a big fan, and the Seeds are very good live. There are few things more middle-aged/class than a Nick Cave gig.

The hanging out with Michel Gove/Unherd, coronation-attending, endless grifting, playing Israel and tolerating Warren Ellis shit can gtf tho.

I once queued at a breakfast buffet next to Nick and the lads. Then stood with them later in the smoking area after we'd all finished our bacon and eggs. Everyone had their own lighter and there was no conversation. Suited me (despite being the only one not wearing a suit).