Cakes and cuppas

SIMONE sat opposite Yasmin in the coffee shop. Yasmin was talking about her kids, her face animated, her curls swinging as she laughed. Yasmin had a knack of drawing her friends in with her warmth. Si

SIPPING coffee with Paula in their favourite café, Liz correctly guessed her friend’s first question. “Well, how did your mother-in-law’s visit go?” Liz smiled. “Very well. Justine is lovely, funny an

Sylvia was bored to tears. She almost wished she’d gone with the others to the garden centre. But she’d had it with garden centres, and what was the point when the gardens here were looked after by pr

I’D just started work as a nurse and it was my first time living on my own. I managed to rent a tiny flat in Finchley. It came with a window box, a stray cat that hung around mewing for food, plus a n

COME on, Auntie Jo – your turn!” Seven-year-old Sophie pushed the little cubes of wood across the table towards her aunt. Jo glanced at the clock and sighed. Still another 10 minutes before her niece

STRAIGHT upstairs, Billy, and wash those hands. Chicken wings OK for tea?” “With barbecue sauce?” Billy licked his lips. “Yes. Be quick, now.” Dumping his muddy football boots by the door, Billy scoot