Peter James: Novelist and Film Producer: Shrinkage?!

Peter's blog

Monday, April 06, 2009
Shrinkage?!

One of the scary aspects of ageing, I have discovered, is that we shrink as we get older! Really! I got a shock a few weeks back when I went for a check up. Now, I've been five foot eleven inches for as long as I can remember, and reasonably happy with that, although there have been times in cinemas when someone with big hair has sat in front of me, when I would have found a few more inches rather useful... so imagine my dismay when the doctor measured my height and told me I am now a mere five foot, nine and a half! I did a quick calculation and worked out that if I live to be one thousand years old (which is my plan as there are so many books I want to read - and to write!!!) I will only be just over three foot tall when I celebrate that particular birthday.

Dubai Doorman

Helen and I feel somewhat small

It is also a fact that we are taller first thing in the morning, when we get out of bed, and slowly shrink during the day as our spines compact. In the days when there was a minimum height restriction for English policemen, of five foot, ten inches, those applicants on the borderline would try to get their medical done first thing in the morning, to secure that crucial extra half inch. So, I'm wondering, what time of morning did this very charming doorman at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai get out of bed? Or have I suddenly got even older than I thought?

posted by Peter James at 4:10 AM 14 comments

Comments:

Oh God I feel so huge. A family of giants is what we are. Do not feel too bad cos all under 5 foot 10 where small to me.

My mother died aged 82 and was still 5 foot 11. I know cos I had to order the coffin.

Maybe your family just decreased in height as they grew older. All in the genes.

Why do they wear white boots in the mortuary?

When is your new book published? My library says they have 15 on order. Does the library pay full price ? Is it time that they got rid of hard backs. Why would any one keep contempory novels anyway.

Haha I hope I havent upset you shorties.

love from an aged giantess.

Jane-Mary

By Anonymous, at 5:29 PM

Thanks, Jane-Mary, your sympathy is deeply appreciated!!!!

There is no set colour for boots in mortuaries - they tend to be neutralm mostly white or green or blue. Haven't spotted any Jimmy Choo designer mortuary booties yet....

The new Roy Grace, "Dead Tomorrow" will be published on June 5th.

A lot of collectors like hardbacks and for the libraries, they last much longer. I don't know what discounts if any libraries get - but I would imagine there is a quantity discount. Great yours has ordered 15 copies - which is your library? I suppose with your lofty height, you would be ok if they were all on the top shelf...!!

By Peter James, at 6:16 PM

I am in the proccess od designing a Choo wellie.......But then I prefer deHavilland.

Chit we (book club of 2) have to wait all that time ......Just a thought think of being old, well older and lying in bed with a hefty hard back.....book that is. lol.
Devizes is the library. 70p has secured me a copy. Money well spent.

The top shelves are for the large print, not the giants.

At least you can laugh and your books show that. I have just read something that was so lacking in humour I felt like death.

Hell man no more holidays and scampering round the world and get writing.

The first of my triogly of husbands was at Charterhouse. What he did there I have no idea. Some people cant be educated. tee hee.

Your Helen looks delightful and I am sure gives you inspiration. Women are like that. (Helen crack the whip and get him writing more books)

Giantess Jane-Mary

By Anonymous, at 7:24 PM

With your height provided an extrapolation of this fellows height in the photo would by my calculations have him capable of straddling camels - amazing !

Peter your not ageing so much as evolving ! I would not doubt that your head is also larger and you have a smoother hairline then earlier members of the James clan. But this makes sense - for all representations of aliens from other worlds have them as far more advanced and evolved then humans, and in that they are all less than 4 ft high with enormous smooth craniums.

Nevertheless if you wish to fight evolutions - I have found that an inversion bed can counteract the compression, and straight the spine and eleviates discomfort - and I rest in the knowledge that the abundance of hair on a male is simply some evidence of a god. That is he/she has provided it as a crutch for those whose personalities lacking.

Cheers,
Ben

By Cell, at 6:10 PM

Hi Ben, thanks for this very informative post. Can you enlighten me on what an "inversion bed" is?

All best

By Peter James, at 9:46 AM

What is an *inversion bed*

Bah I have been to a nurse appointment and asked to be weighed and measured. YES YES I am now a shortie. 175 in whatever they measure you now. Used to be 178. hey I am now normal.

By Anonymous, at 12:50 PM

Wow this fellow is tall! He makes Helen look like a doll. Now if only the shrinking theory applied to the wasteline....mine is expanding with age :-(

Linda

By Anonymous, at 5:46 AM

Linda, he has to be at least 7 foot 4.
Peter and Helen both look like dolls. Yes yes action man. ( cant call a man a doll in England)

Argh I darent measure the waistline. Hey cant even find it. lol.

from a smaller oldies than last week.

Jane-Mary

By Anonymous, at 12:14 PM

An inversion bed (or inversion table) is an anti-gravity device. You step into a "rack" and strap your ankles in, then you flip a lever and it unlocks and swing backwards. You can go to any level of inclination, and at its end of range you are completely upside down held by your ankles. This alleviates all stress on your back, decompresses the vertebrae and actually come off of this taller.
I acquired the IRONMAN ATIS400 and I use it whenever I feel any twinges in my back - the relive is immediate. Others I know use it preventively, by going on 2-3 times a day - not a bad idea as it only takes 30 sec.

R,
Ben

By Cell, at 8:05 PM

Ben, My mother used to hang from a door top! Sounds like the same effect without all the blood rushing to the head and NO COST.

Jane-Mary

By Anonymous, at 10:35 PM

I seem to be growing as I get older....well around the waist- line anyway.

By Anonymous, at 4:14 PM

What a wonderful growth

By Anonymous, at 9:21 PM

Hi Peter. Do you happen to know if the new book will be out as an ebook in June? Hope so as I'm lucky enough to be heading off on a long holiday and want to take loads to read with me!
Steve
East Grinstead

By Anonymous, at 12:06 AM

Hi Steve

Yes, I'm sure it will - I think my publishers are covering all platforms.

I've just got a Sony E-Reader - it is brilliant!

All best

By Peter James, at 8:57 AM