‘Here’s to being a shit mum,’ I say, raising my Arnold Palmer. They all clink glasses with me, raising their bare arms into the air as our glasses touch. I think we are all happy to move on from that conversation. It has no real resolution. If you are a mother and you work, you will always probably feel like you’re letting your kids down in some way. We just need to live with that. I brush my feelings back under the table.

‘So Jess, how is all with you?’ I ask.

‘Oh, you know, my life is just one constant negotiation. Do I choose my husband’s happiness or my own needs?’

‘Explain?’ Yvonne urges.

‘Sex,’ Jess says. ‘Sex and marriage do not go hand in hand.’

‘Oh my goodness, a married woman is going to talk about her sex life? Controversial,’ Sarah says. And she is right, we have discussed this before. These women used to talk about their sex lives in detail, until they got married and that kind of talk just stopped. A mysterious consequence of getting wed. A sudden respect for the sanctity of a sex life. Jess is obviously keen to smash that code.

‘He’s so moody. He grumps around the house all annoyed, and I know it’s because we don’t have enough sex. But why would I want to do it with someone who’s being so grumpy? But what always happens, every single time, is I give in and have sex with him just to snap him out of his strop. Afterwards I feel like I let myself down, but he is practically cartwheeling around the house. Such is a woman’s plight. Sex with moody husbands. Who signed me up for this shit?’

We all laugh. One thing I really do like about my friends, is how much they make me happy to be single. But also, how because of them, I am not entirely on my own.

Lauren Pearce – Instagram post

@OfficialLP

The image is of Lauren’s lower abdomen and thighs, she is wearing a very sexy black body suit. Across her lap we see white silk. A wedding dress? In the other hand she has a glass of champagne.

The caption reads:

Not long now until I get to wear this and say ‘I do’ to my best friend. Talking of ‘I do’s, shall we all say it to ourselves today? ‘I do’ accept myself, and I AM good enough. #Ido #love #selflove #happiness #mentalhealth #Happiness #AD #VeuveClicquot

@kellyclarkvillee: I accept you as my hero!

@helloprettiestone: SHOW US THE DRESS. Oh my God I cannot wait …

@selmaslemaslema: Is it true about Gavin? My friend says she knows one of the women. Bless you if it is. I hope you have good people around you.

@elasticbrain: You and Gavin and GOALZ. I wake up every day wishing I was you. How did you get that man? What is the secret?