12 Oct 2026
Ep. 42 - Life at 51: The Things Nobody Tells You About Midlife
Midlife, menopause, motherhood and the things nobody quite prepares you for…
In this week’s episode of Banter, Anu chats about the realities of life at 51, from menopause and brain fog to people who test our patience, music that takes us straight back to another chapter of our lives and the bittersweet realisation that our children are growing up faster than we’d like.
Anu also shares a rather unexpected encounter with an 85-year-old man who asked her on a date. Yes, really. 😂
And she gets into the question of whether our patience for difficult people really does shrink as we get older or whether we’ve simply had enough.
Banter Recommendations:
📺 TV
The Gentlemen - Netflix: Anu nearly gave up on the second season but recommends sticking with it. It gets seriously good.
War - NOW / Sky: Starring Sienna Miller and Dominic West. One episode in and Anu is already hooked.
Slow Horses - Apple TV+: Gary Oldman’s gloriously cantankerous Jackson Lamb is back and Anu is loving it.
📚 BOOK CORNER
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
A moving, imaginative and uplifting story about regret, the choices we make and the lives we might have lived. Anu read it a while ago but it’s a book that has stayed with her and made her think about the decisions we make along the way.
🍴 Banter Bites
Huo, in Chelsea via First Table
Anu took her mum out for her birthday and used First Table, an app that offers 50% off food at selected restaurants for a small booking fee.
They tried Huo, a lovely Chinese restaurant just off Fulham Road in Chelsea. The food was fresh, full of flavour and offered a modern take on familiar dishes.
The interior felt light and contemporary, too. Anu enjoyed it so much that she’s already thinking about taking the boys back!
For anyone who enjoys discovering new restaurants and trying somewhere different, First Table is well worth a look.
🍽️ RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Creamy, Lemony Butter Beans
Another week, another bean recipe! 😂 These creamy, lemony butter beans are comforting, fresh and filling and Anu’s favourite way to serve them is on hot sourdough toast with butter. Happy days!
Ingredients
2 tins of butter beans, drained
Olive oil
Garlic cloves, chopped
Crème fraîche
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
A little vegetable stock
Fresh parsley
Salt and black pepper
Optional: chilli flakes and grated Parmesan
Method
Gently fry the garlic in olive oil.
Add the drained butter beans and a little vegetable stock. Simmer for 3–4 minutes.
Stir in the crème fraîche and lemon zest over a low heat.
Add lemon juice to taste. If the mixture is too thick, loosen it with a little more stock or water.
Season with salt and pepper, then finish with fresh parsley. Add chilli flakes or Parmesan if you fancy.
Serve warm on toasted sourdough and enjoy!
From menopause to difficult people, nostalgia, growing children and an unexpected invitation, it’s another week of real talk, real life and plenty of Banter.
Grab a coffee (or a glass of wine), settle in and join Anu for another episode.
If you enjoy Banter, don’t forget to follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with a friend. It really does help more people discover the show.
And a little reminder: Anu is a wills and probate lawyer by day, so if you’re navigating the life admin that comes with midlife or helping an elderly parent with theirs. Don’t forget your Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney.
