“You like your news miserable, you do” I said to him. “If its not sad you are not happy”. “It’s the religion I was bought up with, I can’t help it, we were told the world was going to end!”

“But it didn’t, it hasn’t, and even if humans disappear I think the world will carry on without us”…

We continued to talk about it, one argument laid over another, like a pile of folded clothes rising up in between us. Neither side was winning, just the usual grumble of disagreement that comes from being a couple for over 30 years.

“So you agree with me then?” The question insinuated itself into my mind. I tried to remember hearing what he had said a moment before, but there was a blank space where his words had been……”er yes?” grasping for some idea of where the conversation had got to. “Er. …. um,?”

“You know, I said it was all going to be a disaster”  “what disaster ?”  “That they are stopping making jelly babies!” “Why?”  “They are too wobbly!”

Remind me to listen in future…….

This is fiction, as far as I know jelly babies are safe and sound in their sweet jar. I just wanted to explain what happens when I switch off to what my husband is saying. I have to try and guess what was previously said, which can cause mild panic. …..!