Counting chickens

I worked from home, this morning, before driving Mum to the station to catch the train home to London. 

We'd had a chat while we were travelling to visit her sister, yesterday, about the accepted wisdom that you become frailer and less competent, physically and mentally, as you get older.

I mentioned some recent studies, which countered that view, including one that showed that 25% of older people, when tested across ten years, had no cognitive decline at all*.  

And as well as being mentally sharp, Mum is very good at getting out for a longish walk of two or three miles each day. 

In many ways - most ways, actually - I'm sure she's as capable as she ever was. 

Back in Salford, I went for an early evening drink with Yoss, for a bit of a catch up about how things are going with his business start up. I've stepped back from that a bit, because he's quite clear about how he thinks it should move forward, whereas I think he needs to be focussing (a lot) more on sales and I didn't want to impose my views when I felt it was irritating him.

But I'm still keen to support and encourage him, and, thankfully, he does seem to be getting to the point of addressing the fact that he needs some clients. 

*The secret, I was happy to read, was: regular exercise; learning a language; and learning a musical instrument.