I don't recall them being called that. In fact in a strict Methodist household I don't think the word 'sex' was in my vocabulary. But (and this shows my age) my 'pin-up-boy' as we called such creatures was firmly fixed on Michael Rennie after seeing him as Harry Lime in the film 'The third man'.
I don't recall huge posters - or even small posters. We girls just had to dream.
Now in today's world I see the latest sex symbol is Gary Lineker - aged 62! (I do wonder whether his salary as anchorman at £1.35 million a year of 'Match of the Day' has anything to do with it). With a salary like that it would only take a couple of month's salary to be in a position to bid for her late majesty Queen Elisabeth's Rolls Royce which is up for sale with a price tag of at least 'a little over 2 million'.
I can assure any of you men who may be wondering what 'an old dear' of 90 coming up to 91 is doing thinking about sex symbols - the feeling doesn't go away altogether with age you know. Feeling and actions are not the same as anyone who has been sitting looking at a high privet hedge deciding whether to get up and go and cut it back knows. What does transmogrify (if that is the right word) is what we fancy our 'pin up boys' for.
As you will know if you read me regularly - Monty Don (but only in his working gear please) comes high on my list - not as a sex symbol I hasten to add but as someone who - standing on my patio - could transform my garden into perfection.
Then there's Sir Simon Rattle - still a commanding figure at 68 - his hair still a charming head of bubbles (remember him?) just white now, but join my club Sir Simon. I can just imagine us, slippers on, perhaps Sir S in an elegant smoking jacket, me in a sumptious Kaftan and gold slippers while I listen to him reminiscing about 'orchestras I have worked with' of 'why I love Mahler's 9th'). But, hang on a minute - that sounds like an evening meeting and I am falling asleep by 9pm - and that's without the glass in hand (and it wouldn't be Prosecco - oh dear me no - Brandy at least) so make my falling asleep time 8pm.
Oh dear - my dream balloon is deflating sadly. It looks like a toss up between Monty and D my existing gardener. Thinking of money - I did entertain my gardener a couple of weeks ago in my black nightie (for black nightie don't think 'sexy' think' old lady' and 'keeping snug in bed') when, pressed for time he came to mow my front lawn at 8pm, after my night-time carer had been and got me ready for bed. He needed paying. I gave him a choice - come in while I write the cheque or come back in the morning. He's known me twenty years so the answer was obvious. He came in - 'knackered' to use his word - he'd been on the go since 8 that morning - behindhand because rain kept stopping work. So no swet there.
But I could have a large poster of Monty on the wall (I/m sure such a thing exists). The snag is my gardener gets a bit uppity at the mention of Monty. When I told him last week that Monty had recommended cutting Alchemilla Mollis back to ground level to give it time to make a nice neat clump for Autumn, he smirked and said he knew that without having to ask Monty for advice.
And so it remains. I am thinking I might have a pokerwork sign on my bedroom wall - "A Cat can look at a King".
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27 comments:
My dream sex symbol is a lovely photo of my late husband taken when he was about 62. No other man can compare as far as I am concerned!
I do remember that one or two of the old Hollywood stars used to make my pulse beat faster ..Gary Cooper and Gregory Peck at the top of my list. Robert Mitchum too but he was in a different league.. a bit of a bad boy.
Monty Don goes through my F/B page, and to be honest everyone loves his dogs and his garden, not sure he could be called a sex symbol. Mine would be Alan Rickman, sadly no longer with us but having a faithful heart, my poster would always be of Paul ;)
As long as there is life, there will be attraction to the opposite sex. For example, my 99 year old uncle entertained 3 women regularly. They had a merry old time. Occasionally the topic of marriage came up and he said, "If only I was 30 years younger." The party continued. Why not...
Blimey, I didn't realise that people still paid with cheques, I bet your gardener would prefer cash, but I guess if you can't get out to get cash and if he doesn't carry a card machine, then that's the only option.
When I saw Monty Don live on stage last December, on his tour of the country doing various dates talking about what he does, there were no women rushing the stage at the end, although a lot were queueing at the book signing afterwards.
I still pay by cheque Derek - I have no problem getting cash as someone gets it for me but as I can't get out and don't bank on line I have no alternative and shall continue as I do. My carers are mostly paid by cheque because they care for people my age who can't get out.
Susan Why not indeed.
Thelma - I have photoraphs about in nice frames. Sometimes I wish I didn't have them because if I am a bit down they just remind me of what might have been.
JayCee - Bad boys are OK on the wall in a poster. It's the nearest we could ever get.
Gigi My philosophy is not like that. Both very happy marriages have ended and nothing can change that however hard I try. I felt that after my first marriage until after eighteen months I met the farmer.
I remember Michael Rennie from the 1951 movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and he was a handy, good looking man just in time to save the planet!
Thanks for the chuckles, Pat!
Michael Rennie in one of my favourite films The Day the Earth Stood Still. Must have seen that one at least 20 times.
I seem to remember them being called 'heart-throbs' when I was young. Gregory Peck was my first, followed some years later by Paul Newman. More recently it has been Colin Firth who I believe is 62, so I am definitely old enough to be his mother. It works both ways as I remember an uncle saying of the film actress Virginia Mayo, that she could have his chocolate ration!
Oh Heaher your reply did make me laugh. Somehow I don't think heart-throbs/pin-up boys bear a lot of relation to age !! Your prediliction for Colin Firth probably springs from his stepping out of the lake with his wet shirt sticking to his chest in the Jane Austen!!!
Derek - further to y earlier comment - my carers all bank on line and all they do is photograph my cheque through to their bank - so an easy operation. As to my gardener and payment he specifically asked for payment by cheque - at £20 an hour his bill can be quite hefty and he keeps stringent books and has a very efficient accountant.
Pat, to my knowledge acquired by observation in recent years, those who do not succumb to dementia and keep a healthy mind in old age are no different in thought and desires to anybody else. I am just reading Michael Frayne, playwright, philosopher and novelist, who at 90 is flying off to Paris to see the revival of his farce, Noises Off. His memoir came out last year called Among Others, you may like to read it.
A king can also look at a cat!
My mother in law often said Frank Sinatra could put his shoes under her bed.
I am trying to think of anyone I might want on a poster on my wall and coming up dry. Good grief, is that pathetic?
If it is pathetic, I'm pathetic too. I couldn't think of one. To me, what makes my heart beat faster is when I meet someone, and talk to them, and there's this feeling of 'kindred-ness' and a comfortable connection. I tend to fall for a man's mind. How awful is that?
Those pictures of Gary Lineker in The Sunday Times mag' were quite ridiculous. Would anyone in their right minds wear such clothes. Even his expression suggests the HE wouldn't.
Michael Rennie was completely unfamiliar to me, but of course I have looked him up just now and agree that he was nice on the eyes. Of the "old" Hollywood stars, Gregory Peck was and is my favourite. Out of the large pool of contemporary actors, I used to have a soft spot for Jude Law (when he had more hair) and Johnny Depp (too handsome for his own good). But I have never had any posters or photos of them in my home - just a few photos of Calvin Klein underwear models on the inside of my wardrobe door at Librarian School :-D
@Rachel: Noises Off and Michael Frayne - now that's a blast from the past! In the 1980s, the play was on in Stuttgart, and my sister and I absolutely LOVED it.
In the drop down wine cupboard of my unit I have 2 pictures from long ago. David Ginola and Russell Osman, both footballers. David has his top off Russell has his on. At school I had a picture of Dirk Bogarde in the lid of my desk until it was found by a teacher who gave me lines for damaging school property. Still there in my mind though.!!!!! Valx
I remember that when Richard Branson opened his record shops, it was thought smutty that he called then Virgin.
I think your gardener is jealous of Monty.
Pat, your further comment surprised me, down here cash or card seem to be the commonest way of paying, I'm not sure if I still have a cheque book, will have to have a look. Do you still have Postal Orders up there as well?
I’m with Debby, never have had those thoughts about unattainable men. I was attracted to men who were smart, not necessarily well educated, had a great sense of humour and were kind and hard working.. I never had posters or pictures of “movie stars” on my wall as I perceived them to be just phoney. Gigi
Gigi, I couldn't agree more ! Weaver, enjoyed the humour in your Post :)
I used to have Cliff Richards posters when I was young but these days no one takes my fancy. I have a lovely husband with whom I am very happy. I still like some personalities but don't share your joy of Monty, I've heard he can be quite 'crusty' when it doesn't suit him to sign autographs!
I completely agree with Debby and Gigi! Jackie
Yes, this!
Yes, I thought of saying that but couldn't find the words last night, too tired. I appreciate a nice- looking man, but enjoy those with whom I can have a good conversation. I met a man last week at the airport who was nearing 90, and had the most pleasant time with him. Same with a man I met this weekend who was 80. And my young neighbor, only 25 but so interesting.
Ok, way out of date but my pin up would be Gene Kelly. x
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