Sitting in my garden, music playing, drink in hand, I take in the gorgeous view, the sun setting over the lush landscape. Behind me stands the house I spent months renovating, making it into a home. It has taken a lot of work but I’m so proud of the leap of faith I took five years ago and the life I’ve created for myself.
It was the beginning of 2018 when I really started to feel bored with the mundanity of life. My marriage of 20 years had come to an end a few years earlier and my four children – in their late teens and 20s by then – had all left home. I ran my own cleaning business and kept myself busy in my free time doing renovation projects around the house, teaching myself how to tile a bathroom and painting and knocking down walls.
SUMMER OF FUN
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Esta historia es de la edición July 01, 2024 de WOMAN'S OWN.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on the gender gap, cats and timed hugs
Check out CHICAGO
With a spectacular skyline, sandy beaches and great food, the Windy City is calling, says Zoe West
LET'S EMBRACE OUR CHRISTMAS TAT!
Becky Dickinson explains why she'll still be rocking around her tinsel-strewn tree this year
BURIED SECRETS
We look at the shocking cases of celebrities posthumously accused of being sexual predators-and how they got away with it
FESTIVE NO-BAKES
Pop on the Christmas tunes and whip up a batch of these easy sweet treats
PROTECT YOUR SMILE
Are you doing enough to look after your teeth and gums?
'TIS THE SEASON TO SHINE!
At last, Hayley McCrossan, 39, feels fit and healthy
FOR THE LOVE OF TOM
When Deborah Mitchell, 57, lost her son, she vowed to help other families facing the same heartbreak
THE NURSE WHO LEFT MY GRANDAD FOR DEAD belict
Rachael Fealey, 31, had one question for the woman who killed her beloved Grampa - how could you?
Coleen's MONEY WORRIES
What are the reasons behind her financial and marriage fears?