Sir, – Some time ago, as a young-looking 51-year-old, power-walking in my local park, I observed a small boy of about four running towards me somewhat ahead of his mother who was pushing his sibling in a pram. As the said little boy was passing me, he said “Hi old lady”. A little startled, I managed a “Hi” back. After fuming for about two seconds, I had pretty much got over it by the time the little tyke’s mother passed me. But not forgotten.
Fast-forward to 2023, as an upright and still sprightly (I can out-powerwalk any of my offspring), now a white-haired 67-year-old, imagine my dismay when a (seemingly) 12-year-old assistant in a leading chemist shop called me her “dear” not once, but twice. Regretfully, I bit back my retort of “No thank you, chicken”. While in a leading brand supermarket this week another assistant also called me her “dear”. Again, I was polite. But no more! I’m on a mission. The next time someone calls me his or her “dear”, they will be referred to as “My little chicken”! Beware! – Yours, etc,
LIZ HARPUR,
Shankill,
Pamela Anderson: ‘I felt like life was really like death for me’
From national journalism and lecturing in TU Dublin to living as a Buddhist priest
Jamie Dornan: ‘I lost my mom, and I lost four of my best friends in an accident. I had a difficult few years’
Two simple and tasty pork dishes with an air-fryer hack for perfect crackling
Dublin 18.
