TERRIBLE TOLL OF ABUSE
My heart broke when I read the winning letter from Silent Sufferer (YOU, 10 February). In my case the abuse came from my parents, who were regarded as pillars of the community. I was the second daughter born to a couple who wanted boys. Later on, when my brothers were born, they were treated completely differently from us girls.
My mother used to criticise me so much that I grew up believing I was so much less than anyone else. In fact, I was in my forties when I first developed a positive self-image.
I wanted to get married and have children so badly that I ended up marrying my first boyfriend even though he was totally unsuitable. He wasn’t what I wanted in a husband, but having such a low opinion of myself I told myself I wasn’t a “good catch” either, and that I’d better marry him in case someone else didn’t come along.
Of course the marriage didn’t last long, and I was left bringing up two young children on my own. Something good that did come out of this was that my children were never criticised, could always rely on their mother’s love, and grew up to be confident, successful adults. ANOTHER SILENT SUFFERER, EMAIL
She paced around somewhat uncertainly next to me in front of the shelf of bottles and miracle creams. The expensive products were minimalistically displayed. At a convenient distance was a handsome, muscular man and his son. Was this his wife in front of the shelf?
She glanced at me with a kind of absent stare through sunglasses. Then she self-consciously touched the blue purple spot on her face where her current foundation clearly couldn’t cover his anger. She was probably also injured elsewhere. Why else would she wear a long-sleeved shirt and trousers on a hot day? Also, why was she standing here? Could more expensive foundation offer better concealment?
“Choose any one. I’ll pay,” he whispered while passing by. But this was an impatient command instead of loving words of encouragement.
Outside the store, I ran into them again. Nobody could escape his loud complaints about the expensive tube of “nothing”.
I felt wistful and heartbroken but mostly thankful. Thankful for my loving spouse. It should be like that for everyone, this woman too. MARIE, LANGENHOVEN PARK
THIS should be the brightest of years, one in which she’s fêted for the phenomenon she is and placed on a platinum pedestal for all to cherish and celebrate. But pity poor Queen Elizabeth. The first quarter of 2022 isn’t even over yet and there’s already been more trauma and turmoil than anyone should have to endure – let alone a 95-year-old woman still mourning her husband and fighting the frailties of advanced age.
The recent announcement that Her Majesty has Covid was the latest drama. For two years she managed to evade the virus – but when it was revealed Prince Charles had tested positive soon after seeing his mother recently, royal watchers were on edge.
Then his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, got it. And now so has the triple-vaccinated queen – although the palace said she was expected to resume light duties while she recovered from “mild cold-like symptoms”.
Which is typical of her. No matter what’s going on she puts on a brave face, shakes hands and says all the right things, a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. She’s the sun around which The Firm revolves and nothing seems to dim her glow. Yet it can’t be easy to be the constant light in a family where scandal and drama collide like wayward comets.
“I feel sorry for the queen because she hasn’t set a foot wrong in 70 years,” says Nigel Cawthorne, author of Prince Andrew: Epstein, Maxwell and the Palace. “The wheels are really coming off the House of Windsor.”