I dispute your claim that boys always wore ties. At school maybe, but not all the time.

Non nobis Domine. I was also bound by a school tie.

The new tie, made to order from this pattern, arrived today and is a disappointment. The colours are very muted, the contrast low, and the background a dull Navy Blue when it should be black.

Ah well, good try. But so what? The only occasions I get nowadays to wear a dark tie are funerals.

Dull navy sounds better than black, though the pattern would be better suited to a frock.

Fair enough. I'll have one made to measure.

Show off your slim legs.

Those were the days. Today I keep my flabby, diseased old body covered up.

It can't be that flabby if you keep up with the walking.

I'm not overweight and am reasonably fit. But even with no excess fat and decent muscle tone, it's an inescapable part of aging that skin and flesh sag, and it's not a pretty sight.