Carol McGiffin exclusive: We’re sleeping in separate rooms!
‘Who’s been sleeping in myyyy bed? Well, not Mark, that’s for sure! Not most nights anyway because, for a start, one of us is either away working, and if not, while we always start off in the same bed with a snuggle and a chat, we’ll often wake up in different beds, in different rooms.
Now, because we are conditioned to think couples should always share a double bed, most people would see that as problematic. It definitely isn’t for us. Not for Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, either, who says it could be the best thing for some couples who are “sleep incompatible”, which we sometimes are.
I’m a heavy sleeper, he’ll wake up if a bird tweets. I go off straight away, he needs an hour or two. He wants the room blacked out, I like a nightlight. I have to read or watch TV before I go to sleep, he prefers lights out straight away. I snore (apparently), he doesn’t. He’s a fidgeter, a duvet-hogger, a pillow-nicker and a space invader, I’m not.
So, because we are lucky enough to have the room, it just makes sense, and it’s fine – because after a good night of undisturbed sleep, we actually look forward to seeing each other in the mornings, rather than waking up grumpy and resentful with a lack of it.
In fact, the a.m. reunion is the best bit. As Dr Nerina also says, it doesn’t necessarily ruin your sex life. And I can tell you, she’s right.’