Sometimes you can have a great laugh with an elderly patient, we have one gentleman who always tells jokes, he's so deadpan you have to check if he's joking or not. A 94 year old patient of ours has lost truckloads of weight since a bad bout of shingles, she and I have cooked up a plan, she's going on the catwalk as a size zero model aged 21. We're going to say she only looks older because she's so thin.We also chatted about the fact that her boobs have shrunk and she's too embarrassed to go and get fitted for a bra so I suggested one of those M & S vest top jobs. Several ladies who attend our surgery are really beautifully dressed, all colour coordinated and smart. Not necessarily expensive clothes just neat and tidy.Puts the younger generation to shame,myself included- ironing,what's ironing? I often wonder whether my generation will last like the elderly of today. They have faced so many hardships and diseases in their time whereas we have had it very easy. How many of our generation a) take a pain killer when they have a pain b) have a thermometer in the house and know how to use it? c) have even a minimal first aid kit? Well of course, they don't need these - they've got Tom!