I treat myself to premium turkey meat for delicious steamed cutlets, while he settles for expired pork chops.

I am now fifty-seven years old. Ive been married to my husband for over thirty years, and throughout all those years, Ive handled the laundry, cooked his meals, and made our home warm and welcoming. Together, we have two children, and I personally saw to their upbringing and education in proper schools. I was always darting about, busy as a bee, working multiple jobs and picking up every extra shift to make sure our children wanted for nothing and looked just as smart as their peers.

For most of our married life, my husband never put in much effort at work, and once he reached retirement age, he settled into the habit of staying home and stopped working altogether. I, on the other hand, keep at my job, help our children with their kids, and still manage all the house chores.

Ive asked my husband time and again to find at least a small job, even as a night watchman, but he insisted we were doing well enough without him working. Hed say, No point working for nothing! Meanwhile, I rushed home from work to discover hed polished off all the nicest bits and left behind a pot of thin soup.

I chatted about it with a friend one day, and she suggested I cook separately: make his meals from cheaper ingredients, and keep the better ingredients for myself. When I got home, I told my husband that the doctor recommended a special diet, so he shouldnt touch my food.

Now, I stash the good treats in a cupboard, and while hes out tinkering in the shed, I sit down with a cup of tea and a biscuit. I hide the best sausage and cheese behind other items in the fridge, enjoying them quietly when hes not looking. Thankfully, we have two fridges: I keep groceries in one and jars of chutney and jams in the other, which is where I hide my stash.

You know how men can bethey never notice anything out of place. I buy myself quality turkey and make healthy steamed patties, while he gets pork that’s been around a bit too long, seasoned well so he doesnt mind. He eats the basic pasta that costs next to nothing, but I save up for proper durum wheat for myself.

I don’t feel guilty for thisif he wants good food, he ought to put in some effort instead of lazing about all day. At our stage in life, its pointless to talk of divorce. Most of our years have gone by, we own our home together, and it makes no sense to sell and split the money.

Looking back, I realise that life is about balance. Sometimes we make compromises, and sometimes we carve out small rewards for ourselves. What matters most is finding your own happiness within the everyday, and remembering that looking after yourself is just as important as caring for others.