FIVE years after leaving her family for a life of partying in Cyprus, Amanda Moss touched down in the UK – and seriously considered coming home for good.
It was the first time since she swapped school runs for sunrise revelry in that she had genuinely thought about a permanent return instead of periodic visits.
Mum-of-six Amanda Moss quit her Liverpool life to go partying in CyprusCredit: Matthew Pover
Amanda’s children: Saxon, Honey, Floyd, Albany, Ezme and Darling
Amanda with husband Steve, who she left for a new life abroad
She knew it would mean tough conversations with the husband and kids she walked away from.
Was she even ready to come back to ? Back to married life. Back to being a full-time mum of six children.
The answer came the moment she tried to picture herself living once again with hubby Simon, 60.
Amanda, 54, says: “Simon suggested getting back together and I thought about it. But when I got back, I realised nothing has changed.
“I feel we hardly speak. If I didn’t initiate conversations, I think he wouldn’t talk to me.”
After splitting in 2020, Amanda and Simon began divorce proceedings and were given a decree nisi — a document stating the courts see no reason why a couple should not .
But they stopped short of obtaining their decree absolute, the legal document that ends the .
“We would have had to split the property assets, which wasn’t enough for both of us to buy a house separately, and ultimately we agreed it would be best to provide stability for the kids,” says Amanda.
Today is – the first Monday of the new year when law firms see a spike in couples seeking advice or filing for divorce – and many couples thinking about throwing in the towel may identify with Amanda’s dilemma.
She and her husband are complete opposites.
Amanda is working out at the gym by 8am, while Simon prefers a more leisurely start to the day.
Amanda dreams of holidays in the , while Simon is content with his daily outing to .
She wants him to give her Champagne, but he makes her a cup of tea.
When I got back nothing had changed. We hardly speak.
Amanda Moss
If I didn’t initiate conversations, I
think he wouldn’t
talk to me
For Amanda, it’s like Groundhog Day and she’s clear it’s never going to work.
“He doesn’t drink,” she says. “I felt like I wanted a glass of champagne at Christmas, but I didn’t want to drink on my own. I’ve been living in the sunshine, going to the beach. I come back to this.
“I think to myself, ‘Isn’t this boring?’.”
Amanda met Simon in 1996 and they married in 2001. Six kids followed — Saxon, now 24, Honey, 23, Floyd, 21, Albany, 19, Darling, 16, and Ezme, 11.
For nearly 20 years, she was the main breadwinner, working as a freelance journalist and setting up her PR firm in 2016.
All while being a , although Simon did his share of , too.
However, by 2020, Amanda had reached her limit and stunned her hubby by announcing she was leaving him and the kids and moving to Ayia Napa.
Amanda goes clubbing four times a weekCredit: SWNS
“He was very upset,” she recalls. “He followed me to Cyprus and begged me to come back.”
Undeterred, Amanda found a nice maisonette and soon settled into a routine of working on the beach, on a lounger with her phone and laptop, and going to nightclubs later.
Her pals were stunned and she says most ghosted her.
Before long, she had a “situationship” with her PT instructor.
And she has been enjoying the party lifestyle since, flirting with men in nightclubs
In October, she flew home to see the kids for the first time since May. The family enjoyed a day out at a castle in Wales.
Amanda says: “I talk to my children all the time, so it wasn’t at all awkward. I fly back regularly and they come over to Cyprus to see me. We had great fun.”
I talk to my children all the time, so it wasn’t at all awkward. I fly back regularly and they come over to Cyprus to see me. We had great fun
Amanda Moss
When Simon suggested reuniting, Amanda was surprised.
She revealed: “I said to him, ‘I’m in a situationship with another man. How could you want me?’ He said, ‘It doesn’t matter. I don’t want anyone else.’ Simon will be loyal to me till the end. I feel guilty about that.”
Amanda found herself considering trying again, insisting: “He’s a good dad, he’s funny, he’s kind.
“But I could see Simon was not going to ever be the person I wanted him to be.”
Amanda returned to Liverpool again, on December 21 for , but she says little had changed.
Amanda says she goes clubbing in ‘what I call my slut dresses — very small, very tight — with trainers or flip-flops’Credit: SWNS
“When I met Simon, it was exciting, but not any more. I don’t want to be an old couple that goes to a garden centre.
“I’m sick of not having the surprise trips, not having a car bought for me. I’ve never had someone spoil me.”
Amanda is yearning for the — the suave, romantic hero from the famous chocolate adverts.
His absence, she admits, is primarily the reason she thought of getting back with Simon.
“It’s confusing,” she says. “I want a man who is passionate and is going to treat me like a princess.
Will another man love me as much as Simon does?
“Will another man love me as much as Simon does? I think something is missing. Maybe I’m dreaming of something that doesn’t exist, but if I don’t look for it, I’ll never find it.
“I want a companion who wants to explore the world with me. I believe somebody is out there who matches my energy.”
Amanda remains unrepentant about leaving her kids.
She says: “My two youngest are in school, I’m around for them if they want to talk on the phone. They’re not being neglected. If I thought they needed me I’d be back in a shot.
“You get labelled selfish and a terrible mother, but I’m very maternal.
“I put my aspirations aside for 20 years. I never spend more than eight weeks without seeing my youngest two.”
Amanda can’t wait to return to Cyprus on March 3, saying: “I love it — my social life is there.”
So there will be no reconciliation with Simon, as Amanda insists: “I’m not settling — it’s not the life I want. I’d be going back to him to keep him happy, not to make me happy. I’d be lying to myself, to my kids and to him. But I haven’t got any plans to finalise the divorce. It’s a dysfunctional arrangement, but it works for now.
“I accepted the bare minimum with Simon. Now I have to step up. I’m still hoping for the fairytale ending.”
Signs your relationship is heading for a divorce
- Persistent Communication Breakdowns
Constant misunderstandings, arguments, or a complete lack of meaningful conversation can signal deep-seated issues. - Emotional Distance
Feeling like roommates rather than partners, with a noticeable lack of intimacy or emotional connection. - Frequent Criticism and Contempt
Regularly criticising each other and showing contempt, such as sarcasm, eye-rolling, or mocking, can erode the relationship’s foundation. - Unresolved Conflicts
Recurrent arguments about the same issues without any resolution can indicate deeper incompatibilities. - Loss of Trust
Trust is crucial in any relationship. If it’s been broken and cannot be rebuilt, it may be a sign that the relationship is in trouble. - Different Life Goals
Significant differences in future aspirations, such as career goals, lifestyle choices, or family planning, can create insurmountable divides. - Avoidance
Preferring to spend time apart rather than together, whether through work, hobbies, or social activities, can indicate a desire to escape the relationship. - Lack of Support
Feeling unsupported, whether emotionally, financially, or practically, can lead to feelings of isolation and resentment. - Financial Disagreements
Constantly arguing about money, spending habits, or financial priorities can strain the relationship. - Infidelity
Whether physical or emotional, infidelity can be a major breach of trust and a sign of deeper issues in the relationship. - Changes in Affection
A noticeable decrease in affection, physical touch, or romantic gestures can indicate a loss of connection.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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