Staying in touch
The calls that never connect
You ring in your lunch break, they are in the garden. They ring back at seven, you are cooking. Weeks pass in missed calls and neither of you feels properly in touch.
Short answer
Set a standing time rather than ringing when you can. A fixed call two or three times a week, plus a short daily message that needs no answering, keeps contact steady without either of you chasing the other.
Agree a standing time
The same slot on the same days converts calling from an interruption into an appointment. It also means an unanswered call at that time actually means something.
Fix the handset before blaming the person
Ringer volume, a handset in the room they use, your number saved with a name, and a nuisance-call blocker between them solve the majority of missed calls. Hearing loss is worth checking too — free NHS hearing tests are available through the GP.
Use a low-effort daily signal
A short daily message they can confirm with a tap removes the pressure from your calls. You stop ringing to check and start ringing to talk, which is better for both of you.
Share the rota if there are siblings
Three siblings each ringing when they remember produces four calls on Sunday and none on Wednesday. A simple agreed split covers the week and halves everyone's guilt.