In their 23 years of cohabitation, Mel and Ron had reached achieved\nan efficient level of consensus. Holiday, theatre and cinema choices had all\npassed without rancour. Co-operation in the upbringing of son Ben was effective\n(although Ben was unlikely to return to the family home once his college days\nhad expired).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They had reached deep agreement over the marking of high\ndays and holidays. Birthdays were briefly acknowledged, Christmas was not much\ndifferent from other days in the way of festive food. New Year resolutions were\nbeneath contempt \u2013 that is, until quite recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
However, in the last 3 years or so bolts in the wheels of\nthe consensual enterprise had seemed to become slightly loosened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was Mel that opened the bidding on new year resolutions\nwith a killer move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Next year\u2019, she announced over\nthe festive dinner, \u2018I intend to become vegan and that includes cheese and dairy\u2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The two had always tended towards vegetarianism without full\ncommitment. They acknowledged that the\ncheese issue<\/em> would always stand between them and veganism and could see no\nway forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After the few seconds needed for recovery, Ron felt able to\ncounter the announcement with admirable poise:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Interesting you\u2019ve been thinking\nabout health, I\u2019ve just taken out an online subscription to the Ramblers\nAssociation. They have local walks and some are really easy. The easy ones are\nusually on a Saturday\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mel was aghast but maintained outward calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018I may not always be able to join\nyou. Remember, I\u2019m on the waiting list for a knee replacement and some days the\npain is off the scale\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Yes, that might hold us up a\nbit. Maybe a walking frame would help over flat stretches? Should I enquire at\nthat shop in town that sells mobility aids?\u2019 Ron offered helpfully<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clearly Mel could never allow her youthfully vigorous\nexterior to be compromised in this manner but she did manage a slight incline\nof the head in acknowledgement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so the resolutions were enacted. It need not be a matter\nof public record that Ron found a favourite pub to avoid the more difficult\nrambles, nor need we hear of Mel\u2019s frequent succumbing to the Costa in the next\ntown which offered her respite – mac\u2019n\ncheese and adequate quantities of luxury hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the year progressed, each reviewed their progress and\noffered mutual support. Ron had purchased a decorative walking stick for Mel\u2019s\nbirthday and Mel had found a book warning of the dangers of excessive exercise\nfor middle aged men for Ron. <\/p>\n\n\n\n AS Christmas approached, with its Aldi vegan roast with a\nside order of turkey for Ron, Mel announced her aspiration for the coming year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Next year\nI will be completely caffeine free.\u2019 That was a good strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A winded Ron recovered long enough to declare his plan to remove\nall traces of alcohol from his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so the years before the divorce progressed. No fault. No\nwinners or losers just a sensible, adult resolution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In their 23 years of cohabitation, Mel and Ron had reached achieved an efficient level of consensus. Holiday, theatre and cinema choices had all passed without rancour. Co-operation in the upbringing of son Ben was effective (although Ben was unlikely to return to the family home once his college days had expired). 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