Hi Folks,
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, life promptly surprises you. Yes, the Brexit fiasco just got even more weird. The Judiciary trying to overrule the legislature, ie the Scottish courts giving Boris a kicking much to the delight of the SNP’s Joanna Cherry. Graceful in victory, I don’t think so. Anyway, that particular saga has yet to play out in the Supreme Court.
The SNP’s Joanna Cherry being magnanimous in victory. Not
The opposition, having demanded a General Election every day since losing the last one, voted against it.
6th form common room scenes in the Chamber at Westminster as Parliament was prorogued. The difference being, the headmaster might try to restore order at school. Sadly the Squeaker thoroughly revelled in the scenes. Oh to be a Grown Up.
The World Carries On
Still, some good news. The odious Squeaker announced his intention to step down by 31st of October. Some significance in that date. It was a final nose thumbing at Boris. Bercow knows full well the PM will have probably died in his ditch, unless he is in clink, serving porridge, as otherwise there is no way the UK will be leaving the EU on that date. This due in no small part to the partial interference of Bercow. But to borrow a phrase from Mr Squeaker, ‘Bollocks to Brexit’.
Like many of my fellow country men, I am thoroughly bored by the whole thing. I suspect we are all rapidly becoming de-sensitized to the vapid shenanigans in parliament. After all, outside the Westminster bubble, life still goes on, the world still turns and there is other, more interesting stuff to consider.
Such as a news article this week declaring that we now believe that we are not really grown up and independent until we reach 26 years of age. 26? At 26, I and I suspect many of my peers were married, mortgage paying parents. reading this, I wasn’t so much shocked, as envious.
Grown up at 26
Of course there were a bunch of reasons given for this. The state of todays economy, more time spent in education, difficulty in getting onto the property ladder and parents guilty of pampering and spoiling. I’d also add a sense of aggrieved entitlement and lack of effort to the reasons. Or is that being mean?
It seems The National Youth Board commissioned a survey from which they concluded the following. 38% of over 25’s admit to relying on parents or guardians emotionally or otherwise. They also identified 50 signs of independence. These include such mundane tasks as buying your own loo roll, mowing the lawn, making a roast dinner and, in the age of digital reliance, paying your own mobile phone bill.
Reading this, I couldn’t help but consider my own offspring. All in all I think they are doing OK. Apart from the 8 yr old, they have all had to budget for themselves when at college, sometimes badly, but none the less. I suspect loo role purchasing will have occurred, mobile phone bills are paid by them and I have even enjoyed meals cooked by them. Not entirely sure they know one end of a lawn mower from the other, but it’s been a long time since I last mowed a lawn, thinking about it. Hence I won’t be too critical in that area. No, being objective, they seem to be fairly grown up according to these benchmarks.
Or Never Grow Up
I guess you have to be careful about what you mean by grown up. I saw another survey that stated that Women do not ‘mature’ until they are in their 30’s. After nodding in agreement, I read on to discover that most men do not mature until they are in their late 30’s or even early 40’s. Wifey thinks even this is generous. She suggests some men never mature and remain childish throughout their lives. I didn’t like the way she looked at me as she declared this.
I always enjoyed Men Behaving Badly, the epitome of immature men
This wisdom came from a survey by, of all people, Nickelodeon UK, to mark the launch of a new program. Wendell and Vinnie. Never watch Nickelodeon and have never seen the program, but some of the findings do sound plausible. It seems the majority of women surveyed were agreed about their men’s biggest maturity failings. These included still finding ‘fart’ gags funny, playing video games, burping and driving too fast. I am choosing to ignore the first three and will instead focus on the latter. All I can say is, they should go for a drive with my Wife. Lewis Hamilton should watch his back if she ever decides to change career.
There may be a medical explanation for all this. In yet another fascinating article, this one by Bill Bryson, taken from his new book, The Body: A Guide for Occupants, I learned all kinds of things I didn’t know about the human brain.
3lbs of Spongey Gloop
I did know that the brain weighs, on average around 3lbs and represents about 2% of the total body weight. I also knew it is largely made up of water – about 80%, with the balance comprising an almost even split between fat and protein. It requires about 20% of your daily energy consumption as an adult, but a developing baby brain needs almost 65% of the energy.
I also had an understanding that the brain didn’t fully develop until you reached your late teens. But there I was wrong. Mr Bryson assures me your brain isn’t fully wired up and working until you reach your mid to late 20’s. Say 26? Oooooh. This could explain a lot.
The Human Brain. An amazing 3lbs of gloop
Frances E Jensen, a neurology professor told Harvard Magazine in 2008 that “a teenage brain isn’t just an adult brain with fewer miles on it. It is rather a different kind of brain altogether.” It seems all of the synapses, the tiny gaps between nerve cell endings, aren’t fully wired until you are in your 20’s. Until this happens, you are likely to be more impulsive, less thoughtful and more sensitive to the effects of booze. At the same time, a part of the forebrain associated with pleasure grows to its largest size during your teens. If that wasn’t enough, the body produces more dopamine; the body’s natural feel good elixir, at this age. This can lead to pleasure and thrill seeking with little thought for the risks or consequences. It’s amazing any of us emerge from our teens and early 20’s intact.
Real World Worries
All very interesting, but so what? Well, as we know teenagers are a suggestible and impulsive lot, lacking in experience and also judgement. Yet some political parties such as the SNP and Labour are suggesting that the voting age be reduced to 16. Based on the above, it might be more prudent to raise the voting age from 18 not lower it. Of course there is always a vested interest in this type of discussion. It tends to be the more socialist parties that want the youth vote, knowing full well, it’s the younger element that is more likely to vote for them.
When I was in my teens, I was an out and out socialist, leaning to the left of Lenin. I was all in favour of wealth redistribution, improved public transport, greater workers rights and more and more free benefits. And why not? I didn’t have anything and I wanted lots. Worrying about how it would all be paid for was someone else problem.
When I became a grown-up 26 yr old married man with a mortgage, a car and a family to support, I was far more concerned about who was going to pay for the socialist utopia. Turns out it was Me. I couldn’t believe how much income tax, VAT and NI I had to pay? I very quickly changed my opinions. I guess this happens to a lot of people.
Next Election
Which brings us nicely back to Brexit and the current mess in Westminster. Despite the current delaying tactics, there will have to be a General Election soon. The hope is a majority will be reached either by the Remain parties or on the Brexit parties, such that the impasse might be broken. I’m not sure that’s going to happen, personally, but we’ll see.
Comrade Corbyn’s Socialist Manifesto. Be 😟
For me, far more frightening than a No Deal Brexit or even cancelling Article 50 and remaining in the EU is the possibility of Comrade Corbyn and John “Flick knife” McDonnell getting into power. Backed by Momentum, these two Marxist chancers managed to tap into the youth vote in 2017. Its scarily possible they will do the same again in the next election and if so god help us all. If that does happen, I shall be canvassing whole heartedly for an Independent Scotland and helping to rebuild Hadrians Wall. That or moving the family back to the UAE or somewhere more democratic than the UK will have become.
And on that bombshell……
Graham
I always say this. Growing up is different from just growing old. In my case, maturity just means knowing and doing your priorities while being you. Good point to ponder so thanks for this.
Thanks Marcene. When I was a kid, I used to long to be a grown up so I could do what I wanted. Now older, if not grown up, I realize I have less freedom to do what I want. Hence, never grow up.
I think it is okay to grow up just do not forget what really matters. If you ask me though 26 is still a kid. As they say Life begins at 40 and I believe that ha ha. At the end it depends on the person.
They now say 50 is the new 40. I reckon probably best never to grow up. Works for me 😁
This brexit fiasco seemed interesting at first but I got bored along the way.. I guess some of us are way busy with other things
Tell me about it. 3 yrs of playground squabbles. Meanwhile outside of Westminister, we ‘ordinary’ people just want the government to govern.
When I was young, I do say to myself that when I get to a particular age I would be free from my parents control and nagging. But I didn’t get to know that that age comes with a lots of responsibilities and sacrifices. Now I wish I never grow up
I know exactly what you mean. Which is why I plan on staying as immature as possible. Wifey says I am doing a really good job of it too🤗
We all want to leave the zone of being cage by our parents but we are not ready for the sacrifices and responsibilities that comes with the next zone
Not sure. I suspect I am far more protective of my offspring than my parents were of me. Perhaps that’s part of the problem? Are we too protective these days?
Maturity is quite subjective, even if research and whatnots say otherwise. That’s one of the reasons why even up to now people are still confused about a lot of things and still act awkwardly because of those expectations that you are supposed to be mature and adult by such and such age. I say just live your life the way you feel most comfortable about.
Yes and no. Do you not agree that, in general, it seems the millennials stay at home longer, get married and start families later? Good reasons for this, out-with their control in the main. But the net effect is they get to stay, kids/immature/in-grown up longer?
We expect so much from life when we are much younger but we grow up to realize that it not just what we had envisage. I wish sometimes we could still change alot of things.
Regrets? I had a few. But then again……… We all want to be happy. It’s always possible to make changes. If you have the courage and the will. Good lord. I sound like a motivational poster 😂
It funny how we want to grow up but getting here it seem we would have thought differently.Nevertheless we have gotten here so let keep pushing.
That’s the spirit. Keep a youthful, optimistic outlook and try to see the funny side of life. Beer helps too.
Thanks for sharing this awesome post. I will like to extract se words from the post saying the Human brain is quite interesting and complex so therefore you have to be careful about what you mean by grown up simply because a man of 30 might be more intellectual than a man aged 45 depending on the activities carried out by the brain of the 30 year old man.
Glad you enjoyed it. I significantly over simplified the workings of the brain. Barely scratched the surface you could say. I don’t understand how intellect is determined. I can see how the ‘wiring’ must have an impact. It’s amazing how little we do know about it’s workings.
It like reality hit one at once, when you come to the realization that you have to pay so much for income tax, VAT and NI. Sometimes it feels to remain young while others carry all the financial burdens.
Death and taxes. Wait until Corbyn gets into power, if he does. Then we’ll really understand the meaning of taxation.
Age comes with responsibilities, and it always a wake up call that we need to grow up no matter the circumstance and whether we like it or not. We just have to move on with life.
Based on the above, it might be more prudent to raise the voting age from 18 not lower it. Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, life promptly surprises you. The Truth remains that, what turns right to you turns left to the other. Like many of my fellow country men, I am thoroughly bored by the whole thing. I suspect we are all rapidly becoming de-sensitized to the vapid shenanigans in parliament. Lovely guided post you have made.
I totally agree with the idea of this post. Life is like spint. Speeding us up sometimes when we are not just ready.
The brain is so tiny yet it does wonders. I am always amazed by it.
We are a true wonder
26 is a bit too old in my opinion. People should be considered grown ups at 16!
Why? 16yr olds may want to be considered as ‘grown ups’ and that’s precisely why they are not. If they knew what it entailed They’d fight to stay “kids’ for ever
We all grow old but not everyone grows up. There are individual that is not a grown up yet yet is already old.
A no deal Brexit would be frightening. Let’s hope something friendly is worked out!
🤞You have more faith than me I’m afraid to say.
Women are always a bit more mature than men. This is irrefutable.
And that’s why I have a small daughter who is 8 going on 28 🙄
This whole Brexit debacle has gone on for far too long. I hope it is put to rest soon.
Amen to that
I can’t wait for the General Election. It will be interesting to see who carries the day!
Really? I am dreading it. The current incumbent shower are hopeless, so we can only hope the next lot have a few more ideas and a bit more focus.
For the millenials, it is safe to say 26 is when they really grow up. It’s not a very work focused generation.
I know what you mean. But whose fault is that? It is a societal thing or down to pampering parents?
Fun to read and very entertaining too. I look forward to more of the same. Keep it up!
Why thank you Olga. Glad you enjoyed it 😁
I wonder what the implications of a hard Brexit are. I guess we will be finding out soon.
Do you think so? I really doubt it’s going to happen. But as you say, we’ll find out soon.
Being a grown up has become so expensive nowadays. It’s much cheaper to remain a child lol.
Now that’s something I can agree with 😀
There’s a difference between growing up and matured. I would rather stay as a child than face the hardships of being an adult. It’s just too stressful.
I hear you sister 👍
It’s crazy how much our political views change as we get older. Those were some very interesting findings on age and maturity. I think our social environments play a big role as well in how our brains develop. Thanks for the interesting piece.
You are welcome. Thanks for commenting