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When to say ‘ That’s enough!’

Posted on 1st May, 2025

I had lunch with a school friend yesterday – she took me out for my eightieth birthday treat – and we sat and talked about being octogenarians. Both of us are mentally as sharp as ever, look far younger than our years, but sadly our bodies no longer keep up with our aspirations. I’m writing seven books this year – I haven’t done that for several years – and although difficult I’m keeping up.
I love writing and hope to be able to continue to produce several new books every year until the middle of my next decade. I’ll know when it’s time to say “that’s enough” but I’m contracted to write until 2028 and will review the situation then.

However, I’ve now made the difficult decision not to go away for more than one night in future. I read an article in the Guardian that said holidays make you ill – and I think for me now that’s the case. I’ve been away six times in the past three years – on two occasions I caught Covid – the other four I was unwell most of the time. I think for me I’ve said “that’s enough holidays”.
I get tired more quickly – having long Covid return a few weeks ago exacerbates the problem – it seems that many of us who suffered from this post viral affliction, after being free of the symptoms for more than a year, have now had it return. I just hope that it departs as suddenly as it arrived.

I’ve also come to the even more difficult decision that my estranged daughter and her family have gone from my life for ever. I’m very easy to contact as my name is plastered all over the Internet, I have the same mobile number and email and website. If she or my grandchildren wish to contact me – we’ve been estranged for 7 1/2 years – then they could do it easily. I have my wonderful son, daughter-in-law and grandson in my life, also my niece and great nieces, my brother and his family as well as friends and neighbours. I just have to accept that to all intents and purposes I no longer have a daughter. I’ve said “that’s enough heartbreak – time to move on.’

Making these sort of decisions is difficult but I know in my case I’ve done the right thing. I intend to spend however many more years I’ve got enjoying my life that from now on things that make me unhappy, stressed and unwell are over. In future I’m going to put my own mental and physical well-being first – something my family and friends have been telling me to do for years.

Until next time

best wishes

Fenella J Miller