We understand that everyone inevitably has different pressures in work and life, and sometimes they want to leave the busy life and indulge in romance and passion; I believe that marriage is still seen as a mark of success; two people have found each other attractive and lovable enough to commit, in principle, till death do them part. Fine, but that view can feel like a negative judgment on those who choose or are forced through circumstance to live alone. There are downsides to being single, of course there are. It’s more expensive, for starters. But other supposed negatives seem overstated – either that or they’re simply not something from which coupledom can insulate you. Loneliness, for instance – lying in bed beside the wrong person is lonesome and bleak. And while isolation is clearly damaging, it’s easy to forget that solitary time is also important. In middle age, when caring for growing children and ageing parents leaves a person sandwiched, there’s an extravagant joy to be had from being alone – a romance, even.

I’m now in my 70s, and nobody wonders any more about my relationship status. I’m off the hook, fairly content to be seen as a stereotypical elderly woman living alone with her cat. Mostly I’m invisible, but probably historically I might have been burned as a witch. To my neighbours, I have the potential to be boring, bossy and inquisitive; acceptable were I a detective like Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher, but otherwise best avoided. I’ll take that. Sangeeta wears dress, her own. Earrings and ring, both soniapetroff.com. Photograph: Sophia Spring/The Guardian

Word History

Incidentally, a sceptre has been a part of monarchy and ruling dynasties across the world including in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, Greco-Roman and post-Christianity. “With the advent of Christianity, the sceptre was often tipped with a cross instead of an eagle. However, during the Middle Ages, the finials on the top of the sceptre varied considerably,” according to reports.

Basically it was the way the journey/history of this particular Sengol is being depicted—as “another one of Nehru’s failures to safeguard India's history”. Hephzibah wears dress, by Bernadette, from matchesfashion.com. Ring, theysso.com Sandals, penelopechilvers.com. Photograph: Sophia Spring/The Guardian

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Meanwhile, opposition leaders are linking the “overdrive” on Sengol to the elections in Tamil Nadu—the southern state that has been out of reach of the BJP so far. Simple operation: We believe that simplicity is beauty. Singol keeps functions and interfaces as simple as possible to make it easy for everyone to use. Hong Kong and Taiwan Chinese: Designed for making friends with Hong Kong and Taiwan Chinese, making it easier to meet people living nearby. Most women my age have done a lot of painful and transformative inner work through therapy, body work or spirituality. We really know who we are and what we want. Most men I meet haven’t done that work. I’m talking about men in their 40s, 50s and 60s flopping around like 15-year-old boys.