02 November 2002

I’m living with Sharon’s younger brother Robin, in the house their Mum bought for them from her share of the divorce settlement. Other residents include Robin and Sharon’s father, Jim, who isn’t officially allowed on the premises and spends the night in his car; an extremely camp young man who says he is in love

Dear Mary… Q. Could you give me some guidance on how to keep my parents’ and acquaintances’ opinions about my single life to themselves? At 32, unmarried without children and happy about it, I hear a regular chorus from the parents and assorted people: ‘You ought to get married sometime soon’; ‘Shouldn’t you be finding