From couch to CAPRI

Bea was sinking into a rut – until a pal made a life-changing suggestion

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Oh, Bea, not daytime telly again! It's a beautiful bright day and you're holed up in a darkened room watching garden makeovers when your own garden is crying out for some attention.'

Bea sighed and clicked the TV off. She'd forgotten Megan was coming round. Weren't they meant to be going for a walk? It had completely slipped her mind.

'Sorry, Meg. I'm not feeling great. Can we just have a cup of tea and a chat?'

'Certainly we can. After we've been for a walk. Go and put your boots on. You promised to do Couch to 5K with me, and we've hardly got started!'

Bea knew when she was beaten. Megan was right. She really did need to be more active. She was turning into a couch potato. These last few months had been a total write-off. The devastating news of Antony's affair and the subsequent breakup had coincided with them both retiring. Everything she had been looking forward to – travelling, long walks and pub lunches, cycle rides – had come to nothing.

She was alone, hurt and seething with anger. In one fell swoop her life felt stripped of all usefulness. She wasn't a wife or a teacher any more. She was still a mother, but Rosie's job often sent her overseas, and Bea had to make do with a long-distance relationship.

No wonder she felt sorry for herself, she thought, as she tramped through the woods behind Megan.

'Come on, slowcoach! Not much further and we'll have that cup of tea.'

They sat in the garden with their mugs, and Megan rummaged in her rucksack.

'Have a look at this.' She handed Bea a glossy brochure with brightly coloured photos of beaches and castles.

'Singles holidays! Oh no, Meg, I couldn't possibly do that.'

'Why not?'

'I'm not ready to go away from home. And it seems a bit pathetic... holidays for sad singles...' She faltered, remembering that Megan often took herself off on such trips.