What my middle age is like

I am middle aged. My kid is off at university and sending me regular photos of his snack drawer as well as the inflatable cow that I purchased for him in Switzerland. We are technically empty nesters although the nest is not often empty with the two manic cats and the occasional visitor overnight. It is fun and we welcome them.

The real question is, how healthy am I? Well, I’m on blood pressure medication, like many of my peers. For me it’s hereditary – runs in my mother’s family like Blackpool through a stick of rock, as they say. I’m also slugging down the dairy-based cholesterol lowering drinks regularly, as that’s another hereditary issue for me.

My husband has taken the bull by the horns and gone to the “Weight Loss with Better” programme, which he was assigned to via the regular NHS checkup for middle-aged types. Every meal is now accompanied by a, “What would Marcus say about this?” Marcus is the leader of this particular class, which includes regular exercise and nutrition information.

I too have gone back on the calorie counting NHS app, and while he has lost 8kg in as many weeks, I have lost 2kg. Not for lack of trying on my part, but I’m not always as honest as he is. I snack for lots of people, including myself.

So, here we are. I thank the NHS for being proactive about preventing worse outcomes before they progress. Now, we could skip the sessions, or just ignore the practitioner’s advice, but this information is free at point of delivery (plus they give you a big discount on the gym membership). We are now working at a point where we’re trying to stay healthy and in decent shape for our older age, which is rapidly approaching. Like a lot of other people on the planet, I suspect.

In the meantime, I went kayaking on the Thames over the weekend. In the photo, Patricia, my friend in front, has just asked if we can stop here at the pub. The answer was no, not for another dozen kilometres.

• Suzanne Christiansen, editor, Dairy Industries International.
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