Gill has the edge on me as she retired when the school closed and, although we have met up a few times since then, this was the first time since I finished. Usually, when teachers retire and meet up with former colleagues, they are congratulated on how good they look now that they are no longer bearing visible signs of the stresses of life in the classroom.
"You look well!" the cry goes up, and later, when the retiree has left, "Wow, she looks years younger/ so much better/ incredible!"
No-one has said that to me yet, so I am left to ponder on the two possible reasons for this:
a) I don't (look younger/better/healthier.)
b) I looked great to begin with and you can't improve on perfection!
I now await the brickbats and insults I just know are coming my way. ;)