Latest news with #Jez
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
I'm in love with my best friend's wife. I married the wrong woman
It could have been me she picked that night. That one little thought has gnawed at the back of my conscience for more years than I care to admit. If only I had said something wittier, been dressed better, been more bold. If only I had smoked when she asked for a light. If only… It was June 2001 and Tony Blair had just secured his second term in office when Jess* walked into the west London bar that Jez* and I had adopted as our local. In her low-cut jeans and T-shirt provocatively emblazoned with 'f--k me' across her chest, she stood out from all the Sloane Rangers. She was more casual and far sexier, brazenly asking both of us – cigarette in one hand, drink in the other – 'have either of you got a light?' It was me she looked at first. I swear it. But I've never smoked. However Jez, my flatmate and closest friend since our Oxford days, happily fished a Zippo from his pocket and lit her Marlboro light. Her little mouth inhaling was insanely erotic. Two years our junior, Jess was 24 and worked for a fashion magazine. She was funnier and more sweary than the girls we were used to meeting in our banking jobs. I felt stiff in my suit next to Jez, who'd just been laid off, already half cut and dressed casually. We all chatted, laughed, flirted – God knows what about – I just remember thinking how gloriously magnetic Jess was. After several vodkas and Jess introducing us to her mates, we all pulled out Nokia phones and swapped numbers. 'Isn't she amazing?' I said to Jez, stumbling back to our flat. I think he shrugged: 'Not bad.' I spent all next morning composing brilliant texts in my head to ask her out. But when I got home Jez had beaten me to it. I was deflated rather than cross, she wasn't 'mine' and I hadn't told him my real feelings. They had a date, and another, and soon were a 'thing'. I kicked myself for being slow off the mark, but threw myself into dating. At 26 and earning well, I didn't do badly in that department. But none of them were like her. After six months Jess moved into our flat. 'You don't mind do you mate?' Jez asked. 'It's only temporary.' I didn't mind at all, I craved her carefree company. But their relationship was fiery. And when Jez's new job took him away more, Jess and I spent more time alone together in the flat. Those evenings with her, sharing late night chats about life over Chinese takeaways and wine, would be some of the happiest of my life. I'd dare to stretch out an arm across the back of her seat. Occasionally, she'd rest her head on my shoulder and I'd want to punch the air with joy. 'Rich*,' she said to me one, quite drunk time, naked underneath Jez's T-shirt and looking me straight in the eye. 'Do you ever think we should be together?' Christ, did I. More than anything. But when she moved her hands along my jeans towards my inner thigh I entirely freaked out. I just couldn't do it. I muttered something about Jez being my best mate and went to bed, frustrated and loathing myself for not grabbing my chance. And that was that. A few months later, when Jess unexpectedly fell pregnant, I moved into my own pad. But we always had a connection. When she was struggling as a new mum it was me she leant on, me who held her sobbing in my arms one night. I was made godfather, and then best man at their wedding the next year. I took my nice new girlfriend, Claire*, to their wedding, and I delivered a gushing speech. After a furious row on their honeymoon, Jess messaged: 'I think I've made a mistake, can we talk when I'm home?' I never replied. What was the point? Instead I focused on Claire, lovely Claire, who was a newly qualified teacher and of whom my parents approved. Jess and I shared only one real heart to heart after that, when I came to babysit and Jez had rang to say he was stuck in the office and would I keep Jess company instead as she seemed depressed. Despite her date night dress and make-up, Jess looked shattered. We drank rosé in the garden and she confided that she was miserable. I held her. Remembering how right she felt in my arms. 'You know I've always loved you,' she said into my chest. I didn't say all the things I should have – why did she marry Jez? Why didn't she tell me before? Instead, I squeezed her hard, inhaling the smell of her hair and replied: 'And I've always loved you,' I said. We both welled up. 'In a different life, eh?' I croaked, pathetically. As strange as it sounds, that moment sustained me for years. The fact we'd both shed a tear was proof that it meant something. My infatuation wasn't all in my head. Life carried on. Jess and Jez had another child. I married Claire in 2006. Stable, kind, safe. I did not choose Jez as my best man. I encouraged our friendship to drift. I'd find myself both longing and dreading the monthly couple get-togethers that became part of our lives over the years. When Claire and I had a son I was so proud, I honestly thought I was over Jess for good. But all it took was one shared glance, a precious few moments alone stacking a dishwasher together after a supper party, and I was obsessed for the rest of the week. Then five years ago, when Jez confided in me that his marriage was in trouble, it played with my mind and I started drinking too much. What if Jess became free? But what about Claire and my son? Alone at night downing Scotch I'd find myself resenting life. I found Claire increasingly irritating, purely for not being someone else. When she accused me of being cold, she was right. I ended up in therapy where (finally) after 17 odd years I said the words out loud: 'I'm in love with my best friend's wife and I married the wrong woman.' I felt like some t--t in a Richard Curtis film but it was a release too. Therapy did help me give me some perspective. I realised I had a good life, a loyal wife, an amazing son. The therapist drilled deep into whether I was prepared to risk everything for a woman I was 'infatuated' (his words) with, who might not – in reality – want me. Would I burn my 30-year friendship with Jez and all our shared mates and history? I realised that I would not. I'd had many times where I could have declared the depths of my feelings to Jess and I'd not acted upon them. I'd allowed myself to be burdened by my quiet heartache. The therapist also said that feeling like you married the wrong person is more common than people think. (That cheered me up actually.) He reminded me that feelings, even intense ones, were transient. Like everything in life. Why am I sharing this now? It's a good question. I think it's because I'm turning 50 this year, and instead of feeling like a loser, too cowardly to act or confess, I needed to get this off my chest. To acknowledge my feelings were intense but real, to man up finally and ultimately move on. The fact I've stopped thinking whether her feelings for me have now passed perhaps means that – at long last – mine have changed too? Jez is still with Jess. He's already planning his early retirement. Meanwhile Claire constantly scours Rightmove for second homes by the coast. Some days I feel like I'm drowning, and at times when I've felt particularly sorry for myself I've tried to embrace that line in one of Tennyson's poems: 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.' But when you're grieving a love that you never really had, I'm frankly not sure the heartbreak is worth it.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I'm in love with my best friend's wife
It could have been me she picked that night. That one little thought has gnawed at the back of my conscience for more years than I care to admit. If only I had said something wittier, been dressed better, been more bold. If only I had smoked when she asked for a light. If only… It was June 2001 and Tony Blair had just secured his second term in office when Jess* walked into the west London bar that Jez* and I had adopted as our local. In her low-cut jeans and T-shirt provocatively emblazoned with 'f--k me' across her chest, she stood out from all the Sloane Rangers. She was more casual and far sexier, brazenly asking both of us – cigarette in one hand, drink in the other – 'have either of you got a light?' It was me she looked at first. I swear it. But I've never smoked. However Jez, my flatmate and closest friend since our Oxford days, happily fished a Zippo from his pocket and lit her Marlboro light. Her little mouth inhaling was insanely erotic. Two years our junior, Jess was 24 and worked for a fashion magazine. She was funnier and more sweary than the girls we were used to meeting in our banking jobs. I felt stiff in my suit next to Jez, who'd just been laid off, already half cut and dressed casually. We all chatted, laughed, flirted – God knows what about – I just remember thinking how gloriously magnetic Jess was. After several vodkas and Jess introducing us to her mates, we all pulled out Nokia phones and swapped numbers. 'Isn't she amazing?' I said to Jez, stumbling back to our flat. I think he shrugged: 'Not bad.' I spent all next morning composing brilliant texts in my head to ask her out. But when I got home Jez had beaten me to it. I was deflated rather than cross, she wasn't 'mine' and I hadn't told him my real feelings. They had a date, and another, and soon were a 'thing'. I kicked myself for being slow off the mark, but threw myself into dating. At 26 and earning well, I didn't do badly in that department. But none of them were like her. After six months Jess moved into our flat. 'You don't mind do you mate?' Jez asked. 'It's only temporary.' I didn't mind at all, I craved her carefree company. But their relationship was fiery. And when Jez's new job took him away more, Jess and I spent more time alone together in the flat. Those evenings with her, sharing late night chats about life over Chinese takeaways and wine, would be some of the happiest of my life. I'd dare to stretch out an arm across the back of her seat. Occasionally, she'd rest her head on my shoulder and I'd want to punch the air with joy. 'Rich*,' she said to me one, quite drunk time, naked underneath Jez's T-shirt and looking me straight in the eye. 'Do you ever think we should be together?' Christ, did I. More than anything. But when she moved her hands along my jeans towards my inner thigh I entirely freaked out. I just couldn't do it. I muttered something about Jez being my best mate and went to bed, frustrated and loathing myself for not grabbing my chance. And that was that. A few months later, when Jess unexpectedly fell pregnant, I moved into my own pad. But we always had a connection. When she was struggling as a new mum it was me she leant on, me who held her sobbing in my arms one night. I was made godfather, and then best man at their wedding the next year. I took my nice new girlfriend, Claire*, to their wedding, and I delivered a gushing speech. After a furious row on their honeymoon, Jess messaged: 'I think I've made a mistake, can we talk when I'm home?' I never replied. What was the point? Instead I focused on Claire, lovely Claire, who was a newly qualified teacher and of whom my parents approved. Jess and I shared only one real heart to heart after that, when I came to babysit and Jez had rang to say he was stuck in the office and would I keep Jess company instead as she seemed depressed. Despite her date night dress and make-up, Jess looked shattered. We drank rosé in the garden and she confided that she was miserable. I held her. Remembering how right she felt in my arms. 'You know I've always loved you,' she said into my chest. I didn't say all the things I should have – why did she marry Jez? Why didn't she tell me before? Instead, I squeezed her hard, inhaling the smell of her hair and replied: 'And I've always loved you,' I said. We both welled up. 'In a different life, eh?' I croaked, pathetically. As strange as it sounds, that moment sustained me for years. The fact we'd both shed a tear was proof that it meant something. My infatuation wasn't all in my head. Life carried on. Jess and Jez had another child. I married Claire in 2006. Stable, kind, safe. I did not choose Jez as my best man. I encouraged our friendship to drift. I'd find myself both longing and dreading the monthly couple get-togethers that became part of our lives over the years. When Claire and I had a son I was so proud, I honestly thought I was over Jess for good. But all it took was one shared glance, a precious few moments alone stacking a dishwasher together after a supper party, and I was obsessed for the rest of the week. Then five years ago, when Jez confided in me that his marriage was in trouble, it played with my mind and I started drinking too much. What if Jess became free? But what about Claire and my son? Alone at night downing Scotch I'd find myself resenting life. I found Claire increasingly irritating, purely for not being someone else. When she accused me of being cold, she was right. I ended up in therapy where (finally) after 17 odd years I said the words out loud: 'I'm in love with my best friend's wife and I married the wrong woman.' I felt like some t--t in a Richard Curtis film but it was a release too. Therapy did help me give me some perspective. I realised I had a good life, a loyal wife, an amazing son. The therapist drilled deep into whether I was prepared to risk everything for a woman I was 'infatuated' (his words) with, who might not – in reality – want me. Would I burn my 30-year friendship with Jez and all our shared mates and history? I realised that I would not. I'd had many times where I could have declared the depths of my feelings to Jess and I'd not acted upon them. I'd allowed myself to be burdened by my quiet heartache. The therapist also said that feeling like you married the wrong person is more common than people think. (That cheered me up actually.) He reminded me that feelings, even intense ones, were transient. Like everything in life. Why am I sharing this now? It's a good question. I think it's because I'm turning 50 this year, and instead of feeling like a loser, too cowardly to act or confess, I needed to get this off my chest. To acknowledge my feelings were intense but real, to man up finally and ultimately move on. The fact I've stopped thinking whether her feelings for me have now passed perhaps means that – at long last – mine have changed too? Jez is still with Jess. He's already planning his early retirement. Meanwhile Claire constantly scours Rightmove for second homes by the coast. Some days I feel like I'm drowning, and at times when I've felt particularly sorry for myself I've tried to embrace that line in one of Tennyson's poems: 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.' But when you're grieving a love that you never really had, I'm frankly not sure the heartbreak is worth it. As told to Susanna Galton Names and identities have been changed Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The Irish Sun
21-05-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
I'm trolled for my ‘dirty' council house after 3 weeks of living there – people say there's ‘no excuse' for that mess
A MUM has come under fire after sharing what her new council house looked like just three weeks of living there. TikToker Jaz was dubbed ''lazy'', as harsh social media users said there was ''no excuse'' for the mess. 2 One mum - who suffers from a chronic illness - was dubbed 'lazy' after sharing what her council home looked like Credit: tiktok/@typicalgeminix 2 Jaz said she pushed 'through the dizziness and the fatigue' to give her two kids 'the life they deserve' Credit: tiktok/@typicalgeminix Some of the mess, she shared in According to Jaz, who has two kids under four, she hoovers ''almost daily'' and mops ''every few days'' whenever she gets a chance. ''Mess happens more than I'd like and no matter how much I tidy, I'm always going to be tidying the same messes day in, day out, multiple times a day. ''Tidying when you have kids is like sweeping in a tornado - it's absolutely pointless.'' read more on homes Hitting back at the keyboard warriors who've dubbed her ''lazy'' despite her posting cleaning content, Jaz explained that she has ''a few disabilities'' that are not visible to others. ''I have a lot of pain, I'm tired all the time. I get redness and swelling, stiffness. ''But as you can see, that can't stop me - cause if I let that stop me, my kids would be living in a s***hole and I probably would be classed as lazy.'' Despite trolls coming for her, Jez - who posts under the username @ Most read in Fabulous ''Just because it doesn't get gone as quick as some people doesn't mean it doesn't get done,'' she brilliantly hit back. ''I push through the pain, I push through the dizziness and I push through the fatigue - and I give my kids the life they deserve.'' I'm 28 and homeless with 6 children - the council won't help and trolls call me a 'scrounger' and tell me to 'close my legs' & 'get a job' 'You're doing amazing' Since being posted online, the clip has racked up a whopping 44k views - and a mixed bag of responses. While some users thought there was ''no excuse'' for a messy house, others were more understanding. 10 Grossest Areas People Forget to Clean By Under and Behind the Fridge Crumbs, dust, and spills accumulate over time, attracting pests and creating bad odours. Shower Curtain & Liner These collect mildew and soap scum but are often overlooked. Wash or replace them regularly to keep your bathroom fresh. Toothbrush Holder One of the germiest places in the bathroom, filled with bacteria and toothpaste residue. Rinse and disinfect it weekly. Dishwasher Filter Food particles and grease build up, leading to unpleasant smells and reduced efficiency. Remove and clean the filter every few weeks. Washing Machine Seal The rubber gasket traps mould, mildew, and detergent buildup. Wipe it down with white vinegar and leave the door open to air dry. Light Switches and Remote Controls Touched daily but rarely cleaned, making them germ hotspots. Wipe them down with disinfectant regularly. Under the Sofa Cushions Crumbs, dust, and even lost items hide in the cracks. Remove the cushions and vacuum thoroughly. Kitchen Sink & Plughole Food residue builds up, causing bad odours. Pour boiling water, bicarbonate of soda, and vinegar down the drain to freshen it. Ceiling Fans Dust piles up on the blades and gets redistributed into the air when turned on. Use a microfibre cloth or pillowcase to clean them easily. Doormats They trap dirt and bacteria from shoes but are rarely washed or vacuumed. Shake them out weekly and deep clean them every month. Head to her Instagram pages for more cleaning information @ One kind-hearted person wrote: ''no one will understand the mess 2 children a year apart can make your constantly chasing your tail i also have a chronic illness and can 10000% relate.'' Another agreed, writing: ''I will never understand how people can make a judgement from a video… but what baffles me the most is considering you have disabilities you have an amazing mind set and you get what you need to done, done! ''And people are still coming for you. You have young children they are going to make a mess. ''You should be proud of yourself, you're doing amazing and that's all that matters.'' Someone else chimed in: ''At least you ARE cleaning. ''You're far from lazy, you have 2 kids that come before cleaning a window and you're doing amazing.''
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
How Joe Biden has launched a thousand conspiracies
Joe Biden is back in the news with a cancer diagnosis, but there's also a new book out looking at his alleged cognitive decline. So what do you need to disclose and why, if you are in public office. And in Australia the Coalition is consciously uncoupling. Jules and Jez take a look at the messy split. Buy tickets to our Sydney live show here: PICKS Jez's pick: Jules' pick:
Metro
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Hollyoaks confirms unexpected Joel twist with killer Jez set to strike again
Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed) will find himself in grave danger in Hollyoaks next week when Jez Blake (Jeremy Sheffield) sets out to claim his life in order to keep his own secrets hidden. Crazed killer Jez, as viewers know, has taken countless lives over the decades, keeping track of his victims with mementos belonging to them stored in a little book. Dilly Harcourt (Emma Johnsey-Smith) and Abe Fielding (Tyler Conti) are among those to have met their demise at Jez's hands and new spoilers confirm that Joel is in danger of becoming the next. Fake therapist Tommy Odenkirk (Brandon Fellows), who has been trying to build a brotherly bond with Joel, uncovered Jez's murderous secrets earlier this month during a therapy session, which he recorded. Jez was determined to dispose of the threat to his freedom by claiming manipulative Tommy's life. Tommy, however, confirmed that recordings of his confessions would be sent to the police if anything were to happen to him, meaning that he has Jez exactly where he wants him. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Determined to use his discovery as leverage, Tommy instructed Jez to murder Leela (Kirsty-Leigh Porter) so that he could have Joel all to himself. Jez's actions backfired, with Leela surviving the killer's attempt on her life. However, the incident did ultimately spell the end of Joel's marriage, with Leela finding out about her husband's one night stand with Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin), which led to her calling it quits. Upcoming scenes see Joel hopeful of a reunion with Leela, who admits that she's struggling with baby Clara on her own. Frustrated at the pair's closeness, Tommy once again tasks Jez with getting rid of Leela – and this time for good. Jez doubts Tommy's threats – that is, until Tommy makes reference to an alter-ego of his, known as The Reaper. Joel, meanwhile, catches Jez snooping at Tommy's flat and is left confused. Seeing an opportunity to turn the tables, Jez reveals that Tommy isn't who he says he is, revealing the fake therapist has plotted to ruin his life and end his relationship with Leela. He doesn't stop there, filling Joel in on how it was Tommy who leaked the video of Leela online a few months ago. The scales well and truly fall from Joel's eyes and he urges Jez to come with him to the police as they report Tommy. Jez is keen to avoid police involvement for obvious reasons and thus he invites Joel for a drink. Heartbroken, Joel parties the night away with Jez and ends up taking drugs. Jez, meanwhile, receives a visit from Tommy in the form of The Reaper, who reminds him that his time is running out – and that he must kill Joel, otherwise he will reveal all about him being a serial killer. Later, Leela spots Joel outside the club and comes to realise that he's on drugs. She reveals that she vowed to never be with him again if he relapsed. With Joel high and unable to spot the danger, he later finds himself in a serious situation as killer Jez closes in, ready to kill him. Will Jez claim another victim? Is Joel's time up? More Trending That remains to be seen but later in the week Marie (Rita Simons) tells Leela that Joel needs their support, reminding her that he's a recovering addict and that, despite what he's done, they cannot abandon him. Realising Marie is right, Leela sets off with her to find Joel. But will they be successful? Or has the unthinkable transpired? View More » Hollyoaks streams Mondays to Wednesdays from 6am on Channel 4's streaming platform, or catch episodes on TV at 7pm on E4. If you've got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@ – we'd love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. MORE: Hollyoaks confirms major Joel and Leela twist – and it spells trouble MORE: Hollyoaks confirms unexpected exit as character suddenly dies
