14 Signs… You’re Turning Into An Auld Wan

A lot of us don't like to admit it, but slowly and surely we are starting to get that bit older. Be it noticing the length of skirts that teenagers are wearing or simply just wanting a nice quiet night in front of the telly, there are some classic signs that show you are starting to get that bit older (and wiser, of course).  Here are some of our favourites... __________________________________________________________ You notice the gardaí and singers are younger than you It’s often the way that the latest singing sensation will work out to be younger than you, but when it starts to become the majority of singers and the latest hot new talent on the acting scene, you realise you may be advancing in years… Couple this with the fact that you start to notice that the nice new Gardaí in town are younger than you. This becomes particularly awkward when you thought they were hot – ‘til you found out their age. Oh dear. You look for a pub where you can sit down and the music’s not too loud Ah, the classic sign that you are moving on in the years. Gone are the days when you could stand in skyscraper heels (albeit with teeth clenched) and roar the head off your friend as you tried to chat over the music. Now, it’s all about finding somewhere you can sit down and relax and just hear yourself think! You are quoting your mother A prime example that you are moving out of the ‘young wan’ generation is when you unconsciously start to quote your mother. Oh the horror when you realise what you have done. You fall asleep in front of the telly Again, another classic sign that you’re not as young as you used to be is those Friday evenings when instead of being down the pub or getting yourself glammed up for a night out, you’ve fallen asleep in front of The Late Late Show.   You are up-to-date with the latest fashion – second time round We’re not there just yet, but no doubt there’s sure to be a day when hit fashion styles that you wore back in your teens will make a reappearance. You can proudly wear your original ‘vintage’ look without spending a penny. You are going to 30^th birthday parties not 21^st's Ah remember those days when you were buying 21^st birthday presents left, right and centre? Now, it’s all about 30^th birthdays, hen dos and weddings. Getting old is an expensive business! You no longer go for the cheapest bottle of wine Ah those student days when you just rocked into the shop and picked up two bottles of the cheapest wine. Not anymore though – you know what the hangover will be like. You start checking your receipts How many 20-year-olds check their till receipts when they leave the supermarket? We’re going to guess not that many at all, so when you start checking yours to make sure that the discount offer on that washing detergent actually came off at the checkout it’s a definite sign you’re not a young one anymore. And speaking of hangovers… The years are really starting to catch up with you when you realize that not only are you not able to do two mental nights out on the trot, but you know that one night out will write you off for the remainder of the weekend. Lucky for you, you’re sensible enough now to take two Panadol and a big glass of water before bed… You comment on the ‘younger generation’ Have you found yourself scandalized by skirt lengths? Are you appalled with the ‘carry on’ of teenagers these days? In fact, do teenagers kind of scare you? If you answer yes to these, then you really are a completely different generation to them. What metabolism? The days of grabbing a cheeky Supermac’s on the way home from the pub, or indeed ringing Domino’s pizza four times a week are long over. Wave goodbye to your teenage metabolism. You now plan your holiday When you were younger you had no problem bailing into a hostel with five of your friends for a week, or even renting a two-bed apartment in Spain for fourteen of you. Shudder to think of it now! Hotels all the way please. “Text me…” As you get older, you start to worry more and the perfect example of this extra anxiousness creeping into your life is on a night out with the girls (or even just out for a coffee) and you all reassure each other that you will text each other when you get home. But in fairness, that’s just good practise people! Stock piling Instead of eating your cupboards bare and waiting for the weekend when you will go home and raid your parents’ house for freebies, the slightly older (and wiser don’t forget) people will cleverly stockpile things so that you never run out. Extra shampoo just in case? Check. A 12-pack of toilet roll waiting to be opened? Check. Extra cereal in case you run out one morning? Definitely. Let’s not start on the tea bags…