The Tick of Two Clocks cover art

The Tick of Two Clocks

A Tale of Moving On

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The Tick of Two Clocks

By: Joan Bakewell
Narrated by: Maggie Ollerenshaw
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About this listen

Old age is no longer a blip in the calendar, just a few declining years before the end. Old age is now a major and important part of life: it should command as much thought - even anxiety - as teenagers give to exam results and young marrieds how many children to have.... I am in my 80s and moving towards the end of my life. But in a more actual sense, I have moved from my dear home of 50 odd years into another...the home where I will be until the end. Writing here of how it has happened is in a sense a reconciliation with what cannot be avoided, but which can be confronted.

When Joan Bakewell, Labour Peer, author and famous champion of the older people's right to a good and fruitful life, decided that she could no longer remain in her old home, she had to confront what she calls 'the next segment of life'.

Disposing of things accumulated during a long life, saying goodbye to her home and the memories of more than 50 years, thinking about what is needed for downsizing - all suddenly became urgent and emotional tasks. And then there was managing family expectations. Some new projects such as planning the colours and layout of a new, smaller flat, were exciting and some things - the ridding herself of books, paintings, memento - took courage.

So much of the world is on the move- voluntarily or not - and so many people are living to a great old age. In using the tale of her own life, Joan Bakewell tells us a story of our times and how she is learning to live to the sound and tune of The Tick of Two Clocks: the old and the new.

©2021 Joan Bakewell (P)2021 Hachette Audio UK
Biographies & Memoirs
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Critic reviews

"An inspiration to anyone who still finds old age too distressing a prospect to take seriously." (The Times)

What listeners say about The Tick of Two Clocks

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Memories

This resonated with me. I am a similar age with similar memories and experiences. Very interesting to hear Joan sum up the years I too have lived.

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Downsizing a home

Delightful. Beautifully written and a joy to listen to bringing back memories of times past.

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Great advice for older women.

I would have loved more detail - thoughts that would encourage one not to 'collect stuff' in the first place - or redeploy regularly as you go along. No one wants to inherit a house 'full of stuff'. Everyone should be responsible for honing possessions as soon as the end is in sight. Perhaps around 70, not nearly 90? Advice on spending disposable income on things other that 'stuff' is always good. Presents can always be disposable. I think the habit of constant present giving is bizarre and annoying.

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Not what I was expecting

This book was a real lesson in how little understanding some people have of the challenges most of us face as we get older. One star is being generous and given only because I couldn’t give zero!

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Disliked this book

She kept wandering off from the main point of downsizing and talking about other people, history and her politics ideas. I definitely would not recommend this book

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not what I thought it was going to be

very very boring story, narrotor very bland popped into a Michelin star restaurant, what !!

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Boring

I’m afraid I found the whole book really boring. It seemed to be an endless repetition of lists. I only finished the book as it was chosen by a member of my book group.

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