Golden years?

Lucky old Icelandic males, topping the longevity table (your report, 14 December). The heading of your article, “We’re living longer, but 
with years of illness”, immediately brought to mind the gist of the punchline of a sketch in a Scottish comedy programme a few years 
ago.

Three creaking old ladies sitting in plastic armchairs in a care home each declared in turn how they attributed their great age to not smoking, abstaining from the demon drink and getting plenty of exercise.

“Just think,” said one, “if we hadnae looked after 
oorsels we might have missed all this.”

Terry McGeary

East Kilbride