ILL tell you one thing my generation finds hard to get right. We fail miserably when it comes to that strange animal leisure wear, or leezure wear as Mr F calls it, with an exaggerated American accent.

Its the elephant in the room. The fleece at the opera. We just dont get it.

Sportswear in our past was for big, strapping Olympians, while gyms existed only in schools as smelly places of torture with racks and ropes. Well, maybe I imagined the racks.

They certainly didnt have health food bars and water fountains where leisure and sportswear may be required, and the PTA was definitely not invited to do cardio exercise or bums and tums classes.

In those days, Pilates just flew planes.

Leisure time was only to be had on the annual seaside holiday to Skegness or Bournemouth, where dads wore suits and ties on the beach (later, daringly, Aertex shirts and flannels) while mums sported shirtwaisters and comfy cardies.

We kids squeezed into last years sundresses and that years T-strap sandals, eventually disappearing under ruched swimsuits, rubber rings and swim hats that squashed our faces.

In Fisher Juniors day, it was jellies that covered the feet. Do you remember them?

Now, of course, everyone wears trainers.

I got my first pair of trainers about 15 years ago, when I was regularly going to exercise classes and sensed my plimsolls did not cut the mustard.

I confess legwarmers followed but never, NEVER, matching leotard and headband made rib-achingly funny in sketches by Wood and Walters.

However, leezure wear remains a problem. I really dont like to see old people who can barely walk wearing tracksuits and dazzling white trainers to shop at Tesco.

And take casual jackets. You try one on that seems perfect for leisurely lunching by the Thames, one that conjures up swans and jazz and moussaka and cheerful chums squinting into the sun and chortling over a bottle of wine.

So why, when you look in the mirror, does the jacket make you think of a train spotter with notebook and jam sandwiches?

Its an anorak, thats why.

Doh! Wrong again.