ALL ATSEA!

The girls had talked her into it. ‘You need to get out there, Mum.’

Her daughters, Mae and Ella, had popped over for coffee before the gym. They always ganged up on her like this when they got together.

Beth knew they were right, but she’d never expected getting back out there to entail joining a theatre group and strutting her stuff in front of an audience, even if that audience were only the clientele of The Fat Cat in Barnet.

‘It’ll do you good!’ Ella persevered when Beth grimaced in between sips of coffee.

Mae picked up a book from the coffee table and glanced at the title. ‘It’s unhealthy, shutting yourself away with this historical claptrap you read.’

‘Hilary Mantel is a well-respected writer,’ Beth snapped. ‘Historically accurate. I’ve learnt tons about the Tudors reading this.’

HE’S STIRRING UP MY ADAM ANT CRUSH

She tutted and took the book from Mae. ‘It’s just I visualised getting back out there to be popping out with Patsy for a gin and tonic