It’s never too late. Never too late to start over, never too late to be happy………

Jane Fonda

Prancing around naked, and giving an obligatory little jiggle as I passed the mirror whilst taking my necklace off, I’d had no concept or sign as to what was about to happen as I heard the creak of the landing floorboards buckling, signalling footsteps approaching. Ordinarily I’d pass it off as ‘him’ our friendly uninvited mysterious houseguest, whom I affectionately nicknamed George (but not for any reason other than I like it) who had a penchant for late night visits across the landing, or inhabiting the small upstairs office, (the dimensions of this office made it more of a cupboard, but in Estate Agent speech, it was an office!) much to the distress of my daughters when they were living at home.

But these were real footsteps. Thunderous angry footsteps. The footsteps of someone who meant business…….

The door flung open and startled me in its ferocity. He stood there, face red with rage and his normally full lips, now somewhat visibly thinner with pent-up anger. “How long have you been having sex?” he bellowed at me “I beg your pardon?” was my retort, closely followed by “I have no idea what you’re talking about” and at that point, I genuinely didn’t.

My alleged crime was to have been caught ‘en flagrant’ on the sofa….OUR sofa, in OUR house, with another man. Yes, I hold my hands up in shame at this revelation. I am responsible and I was in what could be described as a romantic clinch with another man. But, what I wasn’t doing was ‘having sex’. It was little more than the inappropriate, indiscreet fumblings of two fully clothed teenagers (who should have known better). But my guilt and ultimate fate was indeed truly sealed as ‘we’ had been rumbled.

The benefit of hindsight is a wonderful thing, so it’s said, and without any shadow of a doubt was incredibly improper and wrong to have done such deeds at all, let alone whilst he was asleep in the same house.

I/we were set up, but I didn’t yet know it nor comprehend the enormity of the situation….or the impending avalanche that would ensue from a childish snowball……

However, my fate was duly sealed and so begin my 50^th year, alone. From anonymity to being brave.

Bravery........