Sir, - I thought women had made huge inroads in equality in the past 25 years. How wrong I was. I married 25 years ago and as I was exceedingly happy with my name, I decided that I was not going to change it but add my husband's name on to mine. People regarded me as an oddity, but as I was living in the United States at the time, they put it down to the influence of the Yanks and indulged me. At my husband's business functions I was always Mrs Joe Bloggs on the seating plan and on the place cards. This was irritating, but Rome wasn't built in a day.
After a number of years of signing cheques and other documents with an unwieldy name, I quietly dropped my husband's name. So we became a couple with separate names and blissfully content with the arrangement until last Friday night.
We were invited to a function as Mr Joe Bloggs and guest. Politically correct, as the term "partners" is outmoded. On the seating plan it was again Mr Bloggs and guest, but when we went to sit down, my darling husband was put as Mr Joe Bloggs (1) and I was Mr Joe Bloggs (2).
My entire world is upside down. I've lost everything - even the dreaded Mrs - and have been transferred into Mr Joe Bloggs Two. I'm coping, but only just. - Yours, etc.,
Brenda Carden, Temple Park, Dartry, Dublin 6.