The phrase resonated within Alison. Yes, actually, she found herself thinking. Mo was right: if Alison was honest with herself, she did want those things. But did she really have the nerve to venture out in search of them?

Come on, girl. You might as well have a look, at least. Check out the totty, said Mo in her head. You could almost hear that cackle of hers echoing around the garden.

Alison took a deep breath and switched on her laptop. Now, what was that website called, the one that Mo had told her about? Silver and Single, that was it. ‘There’s another called Grab-a-Granny, but I’ve heard a few dodgy things about it,’ Mo had advised, wrinkling her nose. Grab-a-Granny indeed, Alison thought, eyes spinning heavenwards. Where was the dignity in that?

Silver and Single it was, then. Just to shut Mo up, if nothing else. ‘Well, here goes,’ she said aloud, and then for some reason she picked up her glass of gin and held it in the air. ‘Cheers to you, Rich, wherever you are. Nobody will ever match up to you, my darling. But let’s just see who else is out there.’

Then she typed in the name of the website and, suddenly feeling a bit trembly and giddy, clicked on the link.

Silver and Single . . . You’re Never Too Old! Come on in, the water’s lovely, read the introductory page, and Alison gave a little sniff because, actually, she didn’t think of herself as ‘old’ in the slightest, and certainly didn’t need a website to tell her as much. ‘That’s your first warning,’ she said darkly. Any more patronizing nonsense and she’d switch the silly thing off and go indoors. Her finger hovered over a scarlet heart-shaped button that urged ‘Join Us!’ and, after a deep breath – Got to be in it to win it! Mo reminded her – she clicked again. She would merely investigate at this stage, she told herself. She would simply have a look. It didn’t mean she actually had to do anything she didn’t want to.

A form had come up, with lots of boxes to fill in. Name, age, gender, profession, height, colour of eyes . . .

She sniffed again. Did people really care about the height and eye colour of a prospective partner, then? Did they actually specify that they wanted tall, blue-eyed women or short, green-eyed men, as if they were ordering a model from a catalogue? It seemed very shallow and unimportant. She hoped that wasn’t a sign of the sort of clientele Silver and Single attracted.

I am interested in Men__ Women__ Both__ (tick as applicable).

I am searching for Friend__ Partner__ Lover__ Soulmate__ (tick as applicable).

‘Goodness,’ Alison murmured, feeling doubtful. Surely ticking ‘Soulmate’ was wildly optimistic and against all the odds? Still, optimism was good, she reminded herself, marking the box anyway. The next few questions had her stumped, though: