No one lives forever but it just might seem like it, according to new figures from the government.

Soon, great-great gran or granddad will be dating and even bringing home a new partner to meet the family as the number of people over 100 years old in the UK is expected to hit the 280,000 mark by 2050.

That may seem a long way off, but seeing another 40 years is easily within the grasp of most people living now aged up to 70 years old or so.

How modern science and better diets and living conditions are benefitting longevity was revealed in figures released by the Department of Work and Pensions.

In 2010, the UK will have 12 million over 65s – rising to 16 million by 2050.

Now, there are 12,000 or so centenarians. In 10 years, this will more than double to 22,000.

As an aging population remains fitter and more active, we can expect to see more and more silver surfing and online dating.

In the Thirties, when social minded companies started looking seriously at pensions for their workers, the retirement age was set at 65 because most pension companies believed that pensioners would die before they reached 70.

In those days, the idea of a generation of older people seeking fun, friendship and romance was never considered.

Now, instead of the 18-30 Club, it’s more like the 50-80 Club as more and more older people find they have the time and money to live a fun-filled, active life.

That’s why online dating sites are so popular with those over 40 years old – they provide the means to find like-minded free spirits in a safe, screened and secure environment.

All the old sayings about someone is out there for everyone are coming true as the internet shrinks the world and brings it in to our living rooms.

The challenge now is for the older generation to take control of technology and spend the extra granted by science wisely

When it comes to writing, most people out there assume they cannot do it. Repeatedly you hear people say that they are incapable of stringing sentences together in a print medium. However, writing something like a romantic email is not nearly as mentally taxing as most people believe. Caution needs to be taken when writing a romantic email, of course, but it need not be so tough.

Most people spend time guarding their innermost thoughts and feelings. When you write a romantic email you want to take those guards down. Take some time, maybe even a few hours, to think about the person you are writing the romantic email to and decide how you feel about them. Now comes the tough part, removing those feelings that whatever thoughts you have will seem corny or like something your romantic interest has heard before.

It is true, much of the world of romance has been written by the poets and the writers over the centuries. Just remember, however, that the romantic email will arrive at your romantic interest and it will be the first time they have seen those words written for them, by you. Ultimately, this is all that matters.

Keep the email personal. Explain your feelings in a romantic way that expresses how you truly feel. Avoid the temptation to make your writing read like some other writer’s. This is from your heart and the romantic email should read like something you would write. It will mean more if it comes from your heart and not merely something copied from someone else.

If you do use poetry or words from another author, attribute them. Then spend some time writing things in your own words throughout the rest of the romantic email. The personal touch will mean more.

Finally, avoid being too graphic or personal in the email. Remember, emails are not always secure and this is important if the romantic email is going to a work email address. Your intimate activities do not need to be reviewed at work. Keep it loving and romantic, but not intimate and graphic.

Just let the words flow. You will be tempted to edit the romantic email as you write. First, let all of the words flow. Now go back and review the email. Does the grammar work? Is the spelling decent? Did you say anything you didn’t mean or wouldn’t want read?

Now send it and congratulate yourself on writing a romantic email from the heart. You thought, you wrote, you edited and put across something that is meaningful to yourself and, ultimately, to the person you are romantic with.