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Unfaithful husband?

(148 Posts)
ClareAB Wed 21-Jan-26 08:13:35

My husband is 78, I am 60. We've been together for 17 years. He was always into a bit of kink between us, and I didn't mind. About 10 years ago he became impotent. He lost all interest in sex, and I didn't push it as I didn't want him to feel humiliated. I leant into the marriage as it was and accepted that sex was not on the agenda. A few times I have found him watching porn which has upset me, not because I'm a prude, but because he clearly still has a libido just not with me. We've talked about it, but then it gets dropped and life carries on.
We have a cleaner who comes for a few hours per week. Had her for 8 years, and grown to love her dearly, as has my husband, we joke that she's our adopted daughter. She's into humming birds big time, so birthdays etc I try find something humming bird related. So, today I was in my utility room and wanted something off the top shelf. I have to stand on a stool, so I do and see a box on top of the cupboard, open the box, it's a beautiful bone China hand painted cup and saucer, with humming birds on it... I think ok, put it back in the box and then see an old fashioned school masters cane next to it. I think there's something going on, or am I going mad?

BlueBelle Wed 21-Jan-26 08:17:32

Do I believe this ???

Smileless2012 Wed 21-Jan-26 08:25:42

If this is genuine, bring it down and when he's there give it your cleaner as a 'thank you'.

Cossy Wed 21-Jan-26 08:27:53

Oh really?

Grannycool52 Wed 21-Jan-26 08:37:05

I do not believe this is genuine!

Fallingstar Wed 21-Jan-26 08:40:45

Hmmm. If you’re worried show him what you found and say ‘shall we talk about this?’
Or leave it where it is and lose all trust in your husband and cleaner.
Not sure if this is a real post, others think not, but I suppose life often is stranger than fiction.
I would ask him.

kittylester Wed 21-Jan-26 09:00:18

Or go and bother some other forum.

keepingquiet Wed 21-Jan-26 09:02:49

kittylester

Or go and bother some other forum.

Hear hear!

Sago Wed 21-Jan-26 09:03:56

Get the cane and spank him as he has been a very, very bad boy.

Smileless2012 Wed 21-Jan-26 09:26:23

gringrin

Lathyrus3 Wed 21-Jan-26 09:31:20

Where does the teacup come into it?

I can’t quite get the picture 🤣🤣🤣

ClareAB Wed 21-Jan-26 09:31:25

I know it sounds ridiculous but I promise you it's not made up. Truth being stranger than fiction. I'm sitting here in my home, thinking how it all looks the same, but everything has changed. I have 3 married sons who are amazing, but there's no way I can talk to them about it. Ooof! I'm a writer in real life, there is no way I would write something as ridiculous as this. But there's no way I can convince anyone really so...

Lathyrus3 Wed 21-Jan-26 09:32:09

Oh. No. Don’t answer that one.

People cuter entered head almost immediately 😱

Lathyrus3 Wed 21-Jan-26 09:32:55

Picture not people cutter🙄

sixandahalf Wed 21-Jan-26 09:35:59

Like a kink in a hosepipe? That sort of kink?

Grannynannywanny Wed 21-Jan-26 09:36:20

Is it possible he’s secretly practising a juggling act and is spinning the cup and saucer aloft on the headmaster’s cane?

loopyloo Wed 21-Jan-26 09:47:53

Set up surveillance camera?

ClareAB Wed 21-Jan-26 09:55:20

I’m surprised by how unkind this became. The mockery, sexualisation and ridicule feels like a Mean Girls pile-on rather than adults talking. I came here in good faith at a time when I'm looking at the end of my marriage and all that entails. I have great women friends in my life, and made the mistake that as Grans very little can shock us. Well I am shocked at the nastiness here. Has gransnet been taken over by MAGA or American Christian Nationalists?

Astitchintime Wed 21-Jan-26 09:58:00

Sounds like to makings of a Mills and Boon novel 🤣🤣

sixandahalf Wed 21-Jan-26 10:01:28

Maybe they enjoy a nice cuppa after the kink? Probably quite tiring at that age.

Grannynannywanny Wed 21-Jan-26 10:03:52

Apologies ClareAB. I didn’t mean to be unkind . Like others I was doubting if it was a serious post then your 2nd post crossed with my stupid one.

Sorry 💐

Belardo Wed 21-Jan-26 10:08:39

Hello, ClareAB. Have you considered hiding the cup, and the cane, to see if there's any reaction from your husband or even the cleaner? Any subtle changes in their attitudes etc? Or, perhaps, drop little hints to her in some way, maybe a conversation about schooldays and how teachers used the cane etc.

I don't think outright confrontation is the best approach, especially if it's all completely innocent, but see if you can gauge their reactions without being too blunt.

Graphite Wed 21-Jan-26 10:19:50

You have posted several times over the years about your poor relationship with her husband.

To be frank, it is you who are sexualising this.

If he did buy this as a gift for the cleaner why hasn’t she taken it home? It sounds more ornament than practical. I suspect she’s more comfortable drinking tea from a mug while she’s at work. It’s not on display but neither is it hidden if it’s in a cupboard that everybody uses.

The whip is probably unconnected. A friend’s husband was once given a whip in a Secret Santa. It was meant to signify that he was a tough boss and cracked the whip over his employees. Nothing sexual about it. If he kept it I’m sure it was just put in a cupboard and forgotten or more likely the bin.

My question is - rather than torture yourself, asking for advice from strangers on a social media platform why not just speak to the people in the household? Presumably there other things cluttering up the cupboard(s) and Spring approaches. Put the offending items in a cardboard box with some other kitchen clutter and ask your husband and cleaner if there’s anything they want before you take it all to the charity shop.

A quite innocent story may emerge of a gift bought and never given or a gift given long ago and forgotten. True, people do sometimes develop crushes and buy unwanted gifts for the object of their unwanted affections. It happens but no need to work it up into something it may not and may never have been.

Sago Wed 21-Jan-26 10:20:22

ClareAB

I’m surprised by how unkind this became. The mockery, sexualisation and ridicule feels like a Mean Girls pile-on rather than adults talking. I came here in good faith at a time when I'm looking at the end of my marriage and all that entails. I have great women friends in my life, and made the mistake that as Grans very little can shock us. Well I am shocked at the nastiness here. Has gransnet been taken over by MAGA or American Christian Nationalists?

Hi there, I apologise, I see you are not a new poster!

Your post unfortunately follows the format of a lot of scam posts.

Are you implying there is something going on with him and the cleaner?
Are they ever alone together?
Could you “set them up” ie go out and then return earlier than planned?

Your previous threads indicate your husband is not always an easy man, do you feel you could approach him regarding this?

Graphite Wed 21-Jan-26 10:24:35

Re my post above ... your husband I should have said!

Why do mistakes never show until the text is seen against a pink background?