Look what I did Rozzie!

One element of widowhood is that you have to learn to do a bunch of things you relied on your partner for. This can be anything from D.I.Y. to handling the utility bills. From driving to being sociable on your own. For me it's cooking.

Roz was a great cook and, with her health issues, we divided up the tasks into her doing the cooking and myself doing the majority of the tidying and cleaning around the house. I hadn't cooked anything that didn't require throwing things into an oven and turning on a timer in two decades - the exception being the occasional "proper" chips. So widowhood meant I had to improve my cooking skills and I'm happy to say that so far they're pretty damn good. I can make a delicious roast dinner, a very decent fry up and nice omelettes. I even started poaching eggs and have almost nailed it within a  couple of attempts.

The irony is that you desperately want to share these achievements with your deceased loved one. Every time I make a really nice meal I think "Roz would have loved this. I wish I'd learnt to do it while she was still alive."

I think of all the things I would talk to her about and show her if she suddenly walked through the door. Not just about the cooking but how I've de-cluttered a bunch of the house; how the garden is thriving; how I've sorted the finances so we finally have a decent amount of savings and, of course, all the lovely meals I could now cook for her.

Instead I'll simply carry on learning new skills. Friends and family can benefit from them instead.