IF it's not the weather, the thing that we all seem to moan about is getting old.

Almost subconsciously you find yourself thinking in cliches - policemen do indeed look younger, kids today certainly have it too easy, things weren't like this when I was a lad etc etc.

For some people the concept of getting older is one they refuse to contemplate.

A major birthday ie 21, 30 or perish the thought 40, is seen as being a major catastrophe.

The thinking, it would, appear is, 'it's all downhill from here'.

Then you get those people who are seemingly born old - go on, everyone knows someone like this.

How refreshing then to see The Oldest People in the World on Channel 4 last night.

This documentary looked at some wonderfully interesting people around the world who have clocked up the century and more.

The thing that bound them all together was their love of life.

I particularly liked Leonard Ross, still playing the trumpet every Friday night in his local bar in Arizona and Marje Jetton, who at 102 still rides eight miles a day on her exercise bike.

Age, it would seem, also appears to bestow wisdom as some of the centenarians appeared to have much more sense than your average politician.

As a society we are perhaps too quick to dismiss the older generation. What a waste.