Passions of a 50 year old man – Number 3

Apart from playing a Saturday morning round of golf and then coming home to slippers and a nanna rug to listen to the ABC, there is one other passion of mine that I feel would be better suited to a man more advanced in years.

I love to do the Sydney Morning Herald Cryptic Crossword.

The only other people I know who love this are:

• My Dad (>60 years)
• My Uncle (>50 years)
• My late Grandfather

It’s especially good on a Friday when a guy called David Astle puts them together. He has a particularly cryptic mind and his crosswords are renowned as the toughest.

Does anyone else (preferably under 50) share this passion? Or am I 5-across, 9 letters, G-E-R-I-A-T-R-I-C?

Passions of a 50 year old man – Number 2

Apart from enjoying the ABC (in which, it seems, I am not alone – YAY!) there are other indicators suggesting my premature ageing.

The second is my love of the game of golf. Now I know that many young men and women enjoy the odd hit of this ancient game, but I have taken it to extreme. I play almost every Saturday morning with my dad and my brother, usually crawling out of bed at around 5:30am. Obsessive? Maybe… but I really do love it!

When I look around the golf course on a Saturday morning, there are many who share my passion. But very few of them are under 40 years old. I have my brother there, but at 30 – he’s no spring chicken!

The young guys who do play regularly, more often than not play regularly because they are quite good. The guys who work in the pro shop, the reps on the club pennant team, all have considerable talent. I on the other hand, am not very good. I play despite my ability, not because of it.

What do you think? Is this Saturday morning ritual of early rises, silly outfits and frustratingly chasing a white ball over 18 well manicured landscapes a mark of a man rapidly losing touch with his youth? Or can I be the exception: a cool, young, obsessed golfer?

Passions of a 50 year old man – Number 1

I am a wee bit concerned that I might be ageing beyond my years.

I’m 25. Still young right? But I find myself increasingly engaging in activities that, once upon a time, I would have attributed to boring old people.

As my first example, shameful though it is to admit – I am a huge fan of ABC local radio.

Every morning, my alarm is set to wake me up to Adam Spencer (he’s still young and hip right?). And in the car, as long as I am driving, the station is 702 ABC.

Adri’s not a fan. She would rather be listening to something else. But I honestly can’t find a radio station that I consistently prefer. It used to be Nova, but now I find that boring and, more often than not, offensive. Occasionally, I will switch to Triple J, but I just can’t keep up with what the young people are listening to these days.

Perhaps the worst part of it is between 7-8pm weeknights. I LOVE listening to, and playing along with, “Norman” the quiz with Andrew Daddo. The 25 question quiz played by unusual people with not much better to do of a weeknight.

Don’t look at me like that! I know I have issues, but at least I’m man enough to admit them!

Should I be concerned? Am I too far along the road to senior citizenship? Am I alone? Or do others share in my love for the ABC?