There is no need to act your age

There is a bar in Magaluf known locally as ‘Jurassic Park.’ I will refrain from revealing its real name (you quite possibly know it already). The reason it has this nickname is nothing to do with Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster movie, nor is it frequented by palaeontologists (as far as I know).

This specific bar has been anointed with such a bizarre monicker due to the fact that the average age of the clientele is more mature than other hostelries on the Punta Ballena.

Us humans tend to herd in groups of people of a similar age, so if you wish to boogie (you may have to look that word up) to some hip tunes from the 70’s and 80’s at a discotheque then this bar is the place is go.

Obviously I have been there! And even if some of the memories are hazy, I can tell you it’s a great place to have a good night out.

Age, is a relative thing that only makes sense in retrospect. When you are 15 years old 20 seems mature. When you are 25 being 40 seems antiquated. It is only looking backwards that you see that (to quote the wonderful George Bernard Shaw) youth is wasted on the young.

One of the many wonderful things about living on Mallorca is that there is no obligation whatsoever to act your birth age. You can dance till 4am if you wish. You can go for a swim in the sea at midnight. You can be silly, juvenile even and the age police can go hang.

Talking of police I have noticed that Guardia Civil officers are looking younger. Policemen and doctors are my only benchmark at how time is passing.

Not being a parent means that I don’t have the sense of years going by that people who have children enjoy (if that is the right phrase). They watch their offspring growing and have the felt-tip pen marks on the doorframe to remind them of the passage of time.

I do not have that awareness. For me time has never been measured by school runs, Prom nights or empty nests. As a consequence I still think, act and feel approximately 35 years old, even if I don’t look it.

I work with many young people and this helps me keep up with trends… I am a fan of ‘Love Island’ for goodness sake!

It comes as a shock to me when I realise that I am acting even slightly like an adult. As rare as this is, an example happened recently when I had to ‘suck it up’ and buy a new pair of shoes. I hate wearing shoes and would prefer to go barefoot at all times. This not being practical I was faced with buying ‘sensible shoes.’ No heels (I can’t walk in them anyway), wide enough to fit something that looks suspiciously like the start of a bunion in, and easy to slip off.

I had a moment of clarity that buying a pair of sensible shoes is a sign that maybe (just maybe) I am not as young as I think I am. I can still boogie though – as long as the knees last out!

Laura Penn hosts The Sunshine Club every Sunday 10am – 12 noon on Mallorca Sunshine Radio. www.mallorcasunshineradio.com – email: laura@mallorcasunshineradio.com