Off topic in the strictest sense of the word ‘writing’. This isn’t about my writing, it’s about other people’s writing at this time of year, specifically the envelope containing a festive card.

And what is it about this little envelope that makes my head explode? The fact that for some, because I’m married I’m no longer an individual, apparently when I sighed that register office book, I became my husband and am often referred to as ‘Mr & Mrs (husb’s initial) then our surname. My initial is nowhere to be seen.

Every year we have this discussion as my head explodes and my husband says that ‘it’s just tradition’, ‘etiquette’… It used to be tradition that women couldn’t vote, but we managed to rectify that. And as for etiquette, I don’t even know how to lay a dining table according to the rules that someone a gazillion years ago made up, so I won’t be offended if you just refer to me by my flipping name.

It’s bad enough that I have to use a title -another absolutely useless tradition- I’m not a member of the landed gentry, Rachel will do.

When I address an envelope at this time of year (I still have to send a few), I will write the initial of each dweller, even the children. I like to treat them as individuals, that’s important to me.

Next year? I think I’m going to write my husband’s name twice. Pass-Ag I know, but when one’s head explodes one can get a little unnecessarily assertive

Until next week