202: Happy New Year

 I loved a line in an article I read recently: 

'don’t kid yourself that people change. They just become more exaggerated versions of themselves, one way or another. Accepting this saves a lot of time'

If that is not a message from above, then I do not know what is!!!

Right now, She is on holiday in Rome with a friend - each leaving behind a (very happy) husband and son enjoying some peace and quiet!!

When she is away or in the middle of the night when all is quiet, I almost feel affection. She has so many good qualities but I am finding myself now getting irritated even at little things.

She was telling me about an article she had read about someone who had turned up at her aunt's Christmas lunch an hour late and realised that the world did not revolve around her. And, yet, there is still a quiet pride that her own family would routinely arrive at lunches and parties some hour and a half or more late. And there is often teasing about my own family's stress on punctuality. And, of course, she herself is not the best at timekeeping unless it is in her interest specifically.

Another Christmas has been navigated I think re: presents. After several blowouts over the years, I had suggested £600 each would be transferred from our joint account to our respective individual accounts -   Confidant: 108: Good Christmas and New Year but ... (dear-confidant.blogspot.com) - though this does not solve issues and it is always a tight rope  Confidant: 106 - Glimpses (dear-confidant.blogspot.com).

This year I suggested an evening where we could go to Central London after work, I knew what she wanted - a Dyson hair dryer - and, on my own, would have gone and got it. But, no, I have to traipse after her as she goes in and out of shops (buying nothing) and making sarky comments like, 'I need some new trainers, you bought me some for our anniversary two years ago but did not this time.' Eh, what? She needs me to buy her stuff??

Some friends came to stay recently. E. has told her partner that she wants a Dyson hair dryer for Christmas. Some women colleagues have stated clearly what they want to their respective partners. Another said that she and her husband buy stuff as they need through the year but do not give each other anything for Christmas. All very grown up - but going back to the first sentence, this is not going to change, is it?!

(and, for sure, conversely I will probably become more mean and miserly and boring - better for all concerned to be apart, non?)

Anyway, I went to the shops again and got her some expensive perfume - all seems to be well. 

Her birthday coming up - I do not intend on getting anything other than an expensive dinner. Let's see.

Happy New Year.