The archive
Everything we have published
Recovered articles from Middle Aged Free and Single, preserving their original dates and perspectives.
339 stories · Page 24 of 29
Wee Need to Talk
Stress incontinence. I’ve mentioned it a couple of times ( Gold Status and Physically Fit at 58 ). It has nothing to do with being stressed, and a lot to do with wetting yourself. It’s not something we talk about. I think it’s something we…
My Mean Food Bill
A couple of people (online and in real life!) have asked me to go into more detail about how I keep my spending so low (average £17.88 a week over the last 6 months) – what do I actually buy? You already know (from Husbanding my Resources…
Playing Out
The enormous kitchen dresser at Harewood House All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. And it doesn’t do a lot for Jill either. So yesterday, I played. Well, first of all I had to do sensible things like shopping and putting a load of…
The Mistress of the House
Mrs Beeton. A fascinating woman – the Victorian cook who wrote a book about Household Management. I found a copy of Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management in an antique shop and decided to buy it, and then started to find out more about…
Husbanding my Resources – revisit
For emergency use only… When I found myself on my own after my husband left back in February, I gave myself six rules to follow, to make sure I was ‘ Husbanding my Resources ’. And no, the irony wasn’t lost on me – not then, and not now. I…
Going Round in Circles
Is it possible to be zero waste? No. It absolutely isn’t. Of course it isn’t. Every single thing you own will be waste eventually. I’m looking around my room as I write this (I’m lying in bed…). Eventually the wooden furniture will be old…
Pro-Rogue in Parliament
So Johnson has suspended Parliament. I don’t know if it’s legal or not. Surely it must be? This is Britain, after all. But it doesn’t feel right. It just doesn’t feel right. If leaving the EU was a good idea, fully supported by people who…
Supernumerary in the South Pacific – Tahiti
I feel like I’m reclaiming my past. This was a happy time for me, 1980, newly married and travelling the world. Really nothing to be unhappy about. Later, when that marriage was over and I was with my second husband, well, you can’t keep…
Housemaids and Housemates
The day finally arrived – my lodger has moved in. This is quite a big house, and I have a good sized attic – it isn’t a loft conversion, it’s an actual attic, with proper stairs. It was originally used by Blanche, the housemaid who worked…
Eight hours for fun
You’ll have heard the advert – Lucky lucky lucky me I’m a lucky son of a gun I work 8 hours, I sleep 8 hours That leaves 8 hours for fun It’s wormed its way into my ear – although I can’t remember what it’s advertising. In my case, I work…
Job #26
Like a sparrow with clogs on… Back in June I applied for a job ( The Hunt for Gainful Employment ). I didn’t get it. Never mind – there are lots of jobs I didn’t get, we’ll just add it to the list. When she rang to tell me I hadn’t got it,…
I Don’t Do Camping
Seriously?? I don’t do camping. I have camped – Girl Guides (once, in Wales, in the rain, for a week), in France with the kids (at least it was dry), on Jersey (have you ever tried to get ready for a wedding in a tent??) – but I’ve never…
