Letter: How we celebrate birthdays at ages 71 and 73

Letter: This week my dear wife will be 71 years of age, the following day I will be 73. Our combined pension is the amount which the Government has determined to be the sum needed for us to be able to live on.

We have no other income as most pensioners that are in a similar position as ours might agree, our living standards are restricted to good housekeeping.

So, thinking of our forthcoming birthdays, I foresee (and as previous years), me asking my wife to lend me £10 the day before her birthday. Next day I will give her a kiss and £10 for her birthday. The following day she will offer me £10 for my birthday and I will say "No, luv, put it towards the next electricity bill and we will celebrate our birthdays together by turning the electric fire up a little."

I can just hear her saying now, "Oooh, that will be nice."

She will then give me a kiss.

Norman Powell

Bucknell