[MargaretR]

I knew his wife - we were work colleagues for decades - not exactly 'friends', but one year I had a glut of home grown lettuces and she had too many tomatoes, so we exchanged salad supplies.

She retired early too. I didn't keep in touch but have recently been told she left him and returned to UK a while ago.

I often thought how lucky some women were to find a husband they could tolerate living with for decades (I never did) - but now I think maybe some women just put up with horrendous husbands because they haven't the courage to get rid.