AN aspect of getting older is that one is more likely to become confused.

I am not referring to the vexing consequences of dementia but rather the simple things that cause people still in full control of their faculties to scratch their heads. It is said you know you are getter older when police officers — male and female — start to look very young. The General Manager experienced a fall that required yours truly to drive her to the accident and emergency unit at the IRH one afternoon a couple of weeks ago.

While we were in the waiting room, two policemen came in with an elderly ‘customer’ who was not abusive but clearly might have posed a danger to himself or others had he not received medical attention.

The pair of us looked at each other in amazement. The constables appeared to be hardly out of school.

I should mention that they treated their ‘customer’ with respect and clearly had concern for his welfare.

It would also be appropriate to acknowledge that hospital staff treated the GM in a similar fashion.

Continuing on the subject of confusion, fashions confuse many people of all ages except for those who pay for the privilege of looking daft.

Incidentally, I recently came across a collection of ties that have not seen the light of day for decades. They were all the colours of the rainbow and included a ‘kipper’ tie about a foot across at its widest point. I recall ‘kipper’ ties were popular for around a month not long after British Railways stopping using steam trains.

As I get older, television increasingly puzzles me.

For example, I cannot understand why people enjoy watching so-called reality shows and cannot understand why people — most of whom appear disturbingly weird — are paid to appear on them.

The GM is not given to being confused but even she became a victim this week.

Returning from shopping, she said: “I’m confused. Are we only into the second week of September?” I replied in the affirmative, and she said the supermarket had just put Christmas items on display!