Jessica Hepburn - The Pursuit of Motherhood

Bottle of Chardonnay? Vicky says, throwing her things down on the chair and taking her purse out of her bag.

Tara and I both murmur our approval.

And get some crisps, I call after her. I cant drink without a canap.

What flavour? she calls back. I know youre particular about these things.

Plain, I say decisively. You can only have plain crisps with white wine.

You mean you can only have plain crisps with white wine, Tara says, smiling at me.

Im on an evening out with a bunch of old school friends. The fact that Taras here makes it extra special. She emigrated to Australia a few years ago and rarely comes back to London. For old times sake, weve chosen to meet up at the Railway Tavern, although its not actually called that any more. A few years ago, around about the time we were all turning thirty, it became a gastropub and was renamed the Garden Gate, which sounds much more like the sort of place youd go to have fishcakes. But for us it will always be just the Railway, venue for my eighteenth birthday party (messy), many a hard-fought pool tournament (for the record Ive never been good at pool, so Im glad those days are over), and toilet tears (so many toilet tears).

Isnt it funny how much things have changed? Tara says while Vicky is at the bar. In the old days it would have been a bottle of Lambrusco and a packet of ten Silk Cut.

Do you think they still make Lambrusco?

They should do. It was the cure for everything.

It was, I laugh.

And do you remember how we always said that I would be the first to have a baby because youd be too busy focusing on your career.

And my penthouse apartment.

Yes. Sorry. And your penthouse apartment.

Not sure what happened to the penthouse

London property prices.

That and choosing a career in the arts. Anyway, Ta, Ive not had a baby yet. Were still working on it.

You will soon though,

And so will you.

Gotta meet the right person first. Theres just the small problem of supply and demand.

What do you mean?

I mean theres too much demand and not enough supply.

Yeah, why are there so many more attractive, intelligent, successful single women in their thirties than there are men?

I dont know, but feminism has a lot to answer for.

Vicky comes back from the bar as another of our school friends, Beth, arrives.

Glass of white OK? Vicky asks her.

Perfect, Beth replies.

Vicky pours four large glasses.

So Vic, I take it theres no need for me to start knitting yet, Tara says, pointing at her wine glass.

Vicky got married last summer and, like me, she is also trying for her first baby.

No news yet, she says. Weve been at it like rabbits for over six months though.

Snap! I say.

Ive got some news, Beth interrupts suddenly.

Yes? We all turn to her.

Thomas and I have decided to start trying.

Beth and Thomas got together last year so you could say that this is relatively fast work. But I wont.

Thats great, Vicky says. We can all be yummy mummies together.

Yummy mummies and their maiden aunt, Tara jokes.

I kick her under the table.

So heres some advice, Vicky says to Beth. Get yourself down to the chemist tomorrow and buy yourself an ovulation predictor kit.

A what? Beth asks.

It basically tells you the two days each month you are most likely to conceive, I explain. Contrary to what Mrs Smith told us in biology, it doesnt just happen as soon as you stop using contraception.

Do you remember those classes? Tara says. I still feel sorry for her. She was so much more comfortable talking about photosynthesis.

We all laugh and then raise our glasses to old friends and Mrs Smiths biology lessons.