Day 334

I'm currently in the process of changing my name back to my maiden name.  I changed my Facebook moniker pretty much straight away, and a couple of weeks ago I changed all my other online IDs and my email. I've spent the last two afternoons changing everything else - bank account, driving licence, utilities, etc. The only other thing I've still got left to do is renew both my passports. That's the most expensive part!

Reclaiming my true name is a lot of effort, but it's something I feel strongly that I have to do. As names go, it's very ordinary (not distinguished like my maternal grandmother's maiden name, Courtenay, or characterful, like my paternal grandmother's maiden name, Postlethwaite). I'm reclaiming Lewis as a way of distancing myself from a faithless husband, and as a way of honouring the memory of my father, whom I loved and admired, and who died when I was ten. Once I've got my name back, I'm not going to let it go ever again.