A close friend of mine went through a very similar breakup 9 months after I did, but within 3 months was on online dating, announcing she was over her ex and ready for a new relationship She met a younger and superficially charming single dad who bombarded her with poetry, which (as Jane Austen would say) was so bad that it should have killed off the romance. Fast forward a year: he quit work, moved far away from his young child, and is now living with my friend rent-free so he can go back to Uni while she works full time and more to support all of them. She worries that she is too

At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot: I was talking to a friend the other day. Smart cookie, she is. But not academic. Never had a high powered job. Married to a man who ‘knows his own mind’, ‘calls a spade a spade’ etc. Though he is not my type, they have just celebrated 25 years together and she certainly seems happy. Anyway, we were chatting a while back, and the subject of the referendum came up. My friend said something which at the time I ignored. Along the lines of ‘Well, if (husband) were here he could explain it all very well’. Now obviously there is nothing

At the risk of sounding flippant, I honestly right now miss my cleaning lady more than my x. Seriously. And not only because I can't believe how dusty things get and how quickly, and wonder how she managed to keep a great big house full of children clean when I am struggling to clean up after myself with this one. The woman who came and cleaned house for me worked for me for over 20 years (longer than my marriage), and saw me through childbirth and separation and three house moves. She had the key to my home and was often there all alone. She never stole so much as a penny from me.