I spent two years living in Spain and, when I finally returned to London, I discovered that my son had been caught by a surprise. My daughter, Eleanor Clarke, had married an Italian citizen, Marco Bianchi. I moved into their flat in Camden for two years, looked after my new grandchild and kept the household running.
Eleanor and Marco both worked for the same firm and only came home in the evenings. I hoped that would stay that way, but it proved not to be true. One day they told me they no longer needed my help and asked me to move out. A month later I was back in my own bungalow in Surrey, only to find that I was not welcome there either. While I was staying with Eleanor, my son Robert split from his first wife Laura, left her flat and moved in with me.
He also brought his second wife, Hannah, who was already pregnant, without ever asking my permission. What was I supposed to do? Throw my son and his pregnant wife out? No. But how could the three of us, soon to be four, live in a onebedroom flat? Neither Robert nor I could afford to rent a new place. I called Eleanor and explained the whole situation, hoping she would understand and invite me back, but she refused. She has a different outlook on family.
Roberts behaviour is understandable; he never expected me to return. Now I sleep on the sofa in the kitchen. During the day I leave the house, go shopping, and visit friends. Robert and Hannah get along, there are no arguments, but Eleanors mother, Aisha Patel, ignores me completely.
It is obvious she does not like having me in the flat. I never imagined that at sixty I could become redundant and that someone else would look after my home. Robert thinks only of his pregnant wife and pays no attention to the housing problem.
I am searching for parttime work and would like to manage on my own in my own flat. My future inlaws live on a farm in the Cotswolds. Should I tell Aisha that she ought to move back to my parents house? Will Robert be able to find work there? I doubt it. I cant decide what to do
In the end I realised that keeping my independence and selfrespect is worth any difficulty, no matter how old I am.
