Not in a Strictly state of mind Lucy Penman

The following chat took place with a good friend who is finding it difficult to come to terms with my lack of Strictly Come Dancing engagement this season. This is because I can’t bear to watch on my own without the Student. Me: “How was your weekend?” Her: “Good. Work, alcohol, Strictly. The usual. How was yours?”

Me: “Yes, good. Long walk on Saturday, still no Strictly, then out on Sunday night. Not like us to go out on Sunday night but we were…”

Her: “So you didn’t even watch Strictly results? Seriously? Did you record Saturday night?”

Me: “No, I told you, I’m not bothering this time because I don’t want to watch on my own and Mr P isn’t interested. But we had a good…”

Her: “But you watched it that week your sister was visiting.”

Me: “Yes, but that was because she watches it every week and we were out on the Saturday night so watched it on Sunday afternoon. But my sister found she was physically unable to watch Strictly without her usual Saturday evening gin and tonic tipple. Which meant we started drinking very early in the daytime and it all ended badly, with her demanding I style her hair like Tess off Strictly and then taking photos of her posing next to the screen. We had to go to bed early.”

Her: “But aren’t you missing it? Don’t you miss chatting about who’s in and who’s out?”

Me: “Well no, I’m trying to talk about other things. I mean, I don’t think that was all we ever used to chat about.”

Her: “No but I’m worried about you. About your state of mind.”

Me: “What do you mean? Do you think not watching Strictly Come Dancing is some kind of cry for help? It’s not like it’s a medical condition.” Her: “Are you sure?” Me: “I mean, I am missing the Student, but we’re doing distraction stuff quite successfully. On Sunday we…”

Her: “Well, at least come over to mine for the final. Then I won’t have to be worrying about you when I’m trying to watch.”

Me: “OK.”