Whilst the cat's away .......

It's a little holiday, that's all.

I'm very aware that there will be Gransnetters wishing they had their husbands back. But that acknowledged, I know exactly what you mean NanKate! I have a lovely husband and wouldn't be without him but now that he is retired, he is around a fair bit. When he occasionally goes away, the house instantly becomes tidier, I eat what I like, when I like, wherever I like. And I can stretch out in bed! Sleep is undisturbed by strident snoring. It is just the freedom to make my own decisions without the eternal compromise that is so refreshing after 42 years of marriage.

However, after 2 or 3 days I do miss him

I must admit that I was being a bit provocative with my earlier remark! I was just the same when I was married to my 1st psycho
The trouble is, the time passes much to quickly when they are away!

I love my evenings alone too. DBH came home early tonight instead of going to athletics because he was tired, it gave me a shock as I was just clearing up the kitchen before sitting down to a late cup of tea and carrotcake muffin, and was going to eat later in the evening. But he walked in at 5pm and my evening of slobbing with a jacket potato in front of all the things I have recorded was gone. I had to cook a meal. I thought at the time, he does this fairly often, AIBU to wish he would let me know that he has changed his plans and is coming home. Probably I am, it is his home after all and surely he has a right to expect me to be pleased to see him - and I am after the surprise has worn off.

For 16 years I had the best of both worlds, I had a man on a weekend but the weekdays were mine all mine. The second he left I would put fresh linen on the bed and luxuriate with a good book.

Deedaa I can do all of those things 7 days a week. The freedom is called divorce!!!

Unusually, DH has gone to bed before me.

I feel very free. I am about to go downstairs, make a cup of tea, have it with two biscuits and watch a bit of rubbish tv whilst getting on with my ipad jigsaw puzzle.

Bliss!

I too liked the opportunity to please myself for a while. Since he got his dog 'Horror' (Bailey actually) it's not quite the same as it used to be as I now have to walk the dog, which is hard work as he still can't be trusted off the lead. In the house it's continual up and down to remove something from that he's pinched - our 'toys' are much more fun than his.

It used to be so restful when DH was working away. The housework seemed to be magically halved, there was only a fraction of the laundry to be done and I could knock up a quick bowl of pasta or risotto instead of having to produce a "meal". I could also read in bed for hours with the light on having spent the evening watching "rubbish" on TV

I used to like going away on business on my own and ordering room service dinner and breakfast and watching whatever I liked on TV

The S.O. will move in next week [he always does when it's Cheltenham week]. It's never 'arranged'; it just 'happens' but I'm already dreading the lack of space during the week . Mind you, we always used to go away the following week but not this time, so at least it's only for a week and then I can have some space again.

I know just what you mean NanKate. I love my DH dearly, but he does sort of make me feel under pressure to be always doing something useful. If he sees me sitting too long on the sofa gransnetting he will say something like 'still in your favourite position, I see' making me feel guilty. He is also paranoid about the electricity bill so I am never allowed to put the lights on. I don't like being in semi-darkness so when he's out I have it lit up like Blackpool illuminations! It is just nice to be able to please yourself sometimes isn't it

Lona it's mad isn't it ?

I think the problem is that my husband never stops working it's just him and I feel I can't just lie about reading when he is so busy. The problem is with me and not him.

It's not at all the same, Lona!

Apart from the pleasure of just being alone, I don't understand why you can't do all the other things when your ohs are there.

You all make me feel a lot better.

I might eat quite a lot of chocolate tonight and regret it in the morning !

Since DH has been so ill he only goes out if I take him but he used to go to Oxford for OU tutorials and I loved my Saturdays alone!

I really love it when DH goes to the football - probably the same sort of thing - I eat lamb chops with baked potatoes, on my knee, with a glass of wine, wearing my pjs and feel really decadent!!

I so understand what your saying, I'm the same on the rare occasion DH is away.

We both agree that we love it when we have the place to ourselves. There are no problems, honestly.