Me, me, (ancient old) me

I'm proud to be featured on the Advantages of Age substack today

The marvellous Rose and Suzanne.

The Sunday Times called them ‘the punks of getting older’, so Suzanne Noble (entrepreneur and jazz singer) and Rose Rouse (editor/journo/poet) so I knew immediately they were my people. Also, their jobs.

And, if I needed any more persuading, they had the idea for the Advantages of Age, sitting together in a hot tub in London’s Kilburn, agreeing the need for a social enterprise dedicated to challenging the negative media narrative around ageing.

Combatting the currently accepted ageist agenda that there’s nothing good about growing older.

As they explain it: “We are demanding a different future for older people in this ageist culture where old has only negative connotations. Last November 2023, we held a dazzling Awards Ceremony celebrating pro-ageing organisations and individuals.

“We're big on personal inspirational stories - like the magnificent Louise Butcher, 51, who runs topless every day to promote not having to have reconstructive surgery after breast cancer, or Wendy Mitchell, 69, who writes powerfully about living on her own and creatively with dementia.

“Or Asanga Judge, 80, who has a serious climbing injury, walks with a stick and still climbs both inside and out.”

So I was thrilled and honoured when Rose approached me and asked if I would like to be featured on their Substack, as someone ageing according to my own rules and values.

If you've got a story to tell about how you are approaching your advancing years - please contact Rose at rosejanerouse@yahoo.co.uk

Here is mine. The questions were so fun to answer and it made me realise just how much I like being 65.

Maggie Alderson – Novelist, journalist, Substackist, former editorist of ELLE and ES.