JENNI MURRAY: The REAL reason why women age far better than men

Some days I feel 16 again, brimming with life and enthusiasm. That was such a good age. Lots of hard work for the exams, but I've never been afraid of that. There was so much to look forward to. Always friends to sit and chat with about clothes, shoes, music and make-up.

Parties to plan, decisions about which boys to invite and long discussions about how far one should go and with which one.

On other days I wake up and a touch of arthritis has set in.

I feel not 73 but 103, not wanting to get up, teeter stiffly down the stairs and get on with whatever job needs doing.

Jane Fonda is a prime example of holding back the years, recently appearing on the cover of Time Magazine 

Gloria Steinem, 90, offering a strong voice and opinions and as female-friendly as ever she was

I have found ageing incorporates this vast spectrum, so I ­cannot accept the results of a new survey that resolutely declares that people consider old age to now begin at 74, not a day before, not a day after.

The research from Humboldt University in Berlin says the concept of old age has changed. We used to think we were old at 60 when the free bus pass became available and when retirement was often required.

I agree that old age is getting older but why stop at 74? This means in just under a month's time, on my birthday, I'll be deemed 'elderly'.

Many of those questioned for the survey — more than 14,000 — said old age starts at 74.7. Yet those aged 75 saw old age beginning at 76.8. Clearly none of us wants to be considered 'old'. I still work so I refuse to accept that I'm — oh the horror! — an old age pensioner. Even though I'm grateful for the £975.82 state pension that lands in my account every month.

I was lucky to be one of the women who qualified for the state pension at the age of 60, before the qualifying age rose and rose with the acknowledgment of longer life spans, thanks to better nutrition and better healthcare.

I couldn't live comfortably on what the state provides. I have a private pension saved up over years and years — no handsome BBC pensions for we freelancers.

I shan't touch that pension until I absolutely have to. I shall continue to work for my living, which will keep my brain young. It's a strange business this ageing. You know you're who you've always been. You read the same papers and new and challenging books. You make every effort to go to the theatre regularly, despite the appalling cost of tickets.

You reject anyone saying, 'You can't do that at your age' and do it anyway. But there are days when you look down at your arms, once so silky smooth and wonder how the now dry, saggy skin ­happened. It might be better suited to an armadillo.

Sian Phillips, former wife of Peter O'Toole, is 90, beautiful, fit and ­planning her next role

One of the most interesting aspects of the survey confirms what I suspect we all knew anyway — women age much better than men, and the initial two-year difference extends over time.

Why might this be? Is it that men sink into retirement, relieved at no longer having to make an effort? Have they never learned the true value of friends so don't bother to keep up with anyone they've talked with in the past?

Are they lonely, loneliness being a major factor in ageing badly?

Women work far harder at ­staying young. A battle that seems to start in our 50s. Look at any group at that age and the women look and act at least a decade younger than their men. We meet friends and compliment each other on how good we look. We share tales of trips to the gym or the swimming pool. We make plans for the future.

The one thing in all this time that hasn't changed for me is my beauty routine. Regular visits to the hairdresser are essential and my make-up hasn't changed since I was 16. Moisturiser but no ­foundation. A little dark brown ­powder on the lids of the eyes. Black kohl liner top and bottom. Black ­mascara and a spot of blusher on both cheeks. No ­lipstick, I never needed it.

I dreamed of long red nails, but school wouldn't allow it. I have them now.

Jane Fonda is a prime example of holding back the years. On the front of Time Magazine at the age of 86 this month, she looks ­amazing next to the coverline 'Jane Fonda's Next Act'.

I saw actress Sian Phillips, former wife of Peter O'Toole, speaking about her life on ­television last week.

She's 90, beautiful, fit and ­planning her next role. Then there's Gloria Steinem, also 90, speaking on the radio — strong voice and opinions and as female-friendly as ever she was.

My conclusion? Keep on ­keeping on and remember you're as old as you feel — 103 some days, but 16 is ­infinitely better!

So, Posh CAN let her hair down 

A loving David carried Victoria to the car after an apparently big night for her 50th birthday celebrations

She's always been Posh Spice — controlled, calm, eating nothing but fish and greens. But wow, did she enjoy her 50th birthday party! Not many husbands would piggyback their legless wife to the car. Full marks David Beckham. 

Cillian doesn't look peaky to me 

The leading man of Peaky Blinders, Tommy Shelby, is rugged and rough around the edges and will return in an upcoming  movie

Cillian Murphy is rugged, handsome, gorgeous. Why did he think he had to fix his face for the Oscars? The number of men getting drawn into tweakments is on the rise — in this case apparently Murphy used a laser 'handheld facelift device'. How is he going to play Peaky Blinders' ageing, ­tough Tommy Shelby in the upcoming movie if he gives himself a baby face?

 It's been found that patients are less likely to die if their doctor is female. Just as well I changed mine last year and my current, very attentive, GP is a woman.

Look where Charlie has turned up 

A new television obsession takes hold. The second series of BBC 1's Blue Lights, set in Belfast, is enlightening, exciting and terrifying as the young police officers fall in love and try to keep an uneasy peace.

This week a young solicitor went to the home of a former police officer, seeking information about a bomb in the Troubles. He shut the door in her face. For a moment I thought I recognised the careworn, bearded old man.

Goodness, it was Derek Thompson — Charlie from Casualty. So, he too has a next act.

 At last, the Mail's tenacious wet wipe campaign has succeeded. They're to be banned. I've never understood how anyone thought it was OK to flush them down the loo. Wasn't it obvious that they'd block your drains?