WORRY FOR PAL WHO’S SLIPPED OFF THE RADAR

STV, 7.30pm and 8.30pm

Dear Coleen

I’M a woman in my 40s and have a good friend who’s gone really quiet since the first lockdown last March. She has only sent me a couple of messages – a Christmas card and a happy birthday text.

Apart from that I haven’t heard from her, despite sending lots of messages and trying to call – it all disappears into a vacuum and she never replies.

I know I haven’t done or said anything to upset her, but what should I do about this when she never replies?

Coleen says

I THINK lockdown has had a profound effect on lots of people. Some people have reached out more to friends, desperate to connect with the outside world, while others – possibly including your friend – have retreated to get through it and will emerge again when life opens up once more.

You know she’s not upset with you because you’ve had birthday and Christmas messages, so she is still in touch, albeit not very much. She might be very busy or dealing with stress from work, homeschooling, family relationships and so on.

You could send her one more message, saying you know you haven’t seen each other, but you hope she’s coping OK in lockdown and hope to see her when restrictions are lifted.

WHEN Peter fails to show up for his shift, Steve is furious to find him at No 1 slurring his words and stumbling all over the place. He struggles to speak as he asks Steve for help, but Steve is unimpressed.

Meanwhile, Kirk gives Sean the cold shoulder for his treatment of Gemma.

Elsewhere, Leanne is delighted to find Simon is getting on with his coursework – until Jacob turns up. And Alya is nervous about Elaine moving into No 6.