FAR be it from me to be Job’s comfort to Christopher Wardell (HAS, May 18) but, in my experience, one’s forties are the most depressing time of your life.

You become increasingly aware of waning powers, both physical and mental, and if you haven’t got to where you wanted to be at work, you’re not going to. Younger, more ambitious whippersnappers begin to overtake you.

However, he does have the sunny uplands of his sixties and retirement to look forward to a time to reflect on all the workrelated stress and realise that most of it was about matters of little consequence.

Contrary to what many people think about the elderly, I find my sense of humour has become sharper since retirement.

Old age in my case has increased my sense of the surreal (heaven knows what it’ll do for Mr Wardell) and confirmed that the pompous and self-opinionated are an endless source of fun.

It’s just a pity they do so much harm in the meantime.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland.