The Imperial Guard and Reading Glasses
When I was younger I was a keen modeller. Mostly it was railways, then as space became a commodity in short supply, I turned to military models. Then I drifted away to other things. The Napoleonic era still fascinates me and I felt a hankering to rekindle my interest in military models. I forked out for the work in progress pictured; a French Grenadier of the Imperial Guard 1812.
That’s when it struck me; I ain’t as young as I used to was…
Seeing me struggle to focus, Mrs Longrider handed me a pair of her reading specs. Monsieur popped dramatically into focus and I could see the detail just as I could twenty-odd years ago. “Great, thanks,” I said.
Oh, dear… I’ve got to that age…
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Comment by Pete in Dunbar
# October 29, 2006,
At least you can see things at a distance! Having been short sighted for most of my life being able to look at things really close up was one of the few advantages (particularly at work). And I do mean close - I could focus on things to within a couple of inches of my eyes. That’s all gone - I have to take my glasses off to read books, or half the time at work to see the screen clearly. Now I have perfect vision between about ten inches and twelve inches away - everything else is a blur.
Somehow I had gained the idea that, because people get long-sighted as they age, my eyesight would improve. This was a cheering illusion, but of course completely wrong, as I am now finding out.
Still, it did provide a fine excuse for replacing the 17-inch CRT with a 19-inch TFT monitor, which is wonderful - I can read web sites without straining again.
Comment by Pimme
# October 29, 2006,
I wonder what the median age is for needing reading specs? As for me, I’d just as soon opt for Lasik surgery if I get to that point.
Comment by Longrider
# October 29, 2006,
That would be a bit drastic for reading…
Comment by Jonathan
# October 29, 2006,
Methinks your figure has been standing over a grate a la Marilyn Monroe
Comment by Longrider
# October 29, 2006,
Nah, that’s supposed to be the Siberian easterly…
Comment by Jonathan
# October 29, 2006,
lbhh okay
Comment by John
# October 30, 2006,
I have a small collection of military figures that I painted many years ago and like you I am fascinated by the Napoleonic period. It’s funny but I only realised how badly one or two of them were painted after I had my two operations for cataracts.
Comment by Jonathan
# October 30, 2006,