Mums night out

I cannot wait to go out out again. I’m already dreaming of where I will go and what I will wear.

Whilst imagining future nights out I fondly recalled the last time I went out out pre lockdown.

We had two very big and special birthdays to celebrate. Of course we had to mark these special occasions in a befitting fashion. We had such grand, sophisticated plans when the topic was first raised involving swanky restaurants and roof top cocktail bars. However, our initial ideas were formed from a blue sky thinking/pre-children perspective.

Quite predictably, as time went on and the question of where we should go grew more expedient comments such as ‘central London is quite far’ and ‘getting home is quite a faff’ and ‘My child woke me up 5 times last night’ were thrown around. As a result our grand plans were scaled back further and further until we eventually settled on a local pub which was having an 80s night disco!

I planned to have an appropriate amount of time to get ready as I didn’t want the usual rush when trying to leave the house. I wanted to enjoy the process of getting ready. However, just like the event, my getting ready time was scaled back too, and I ended up having a 15 minute window – Which included my shower time.

I hastily threw on a pink dress and grabbed my coat and bag texting my friend to let her know that I was ready and waiting outside for the cab. She shot a reply straight back saying don’t bring your coat. Don’t bring my coat? What am I 15 again? I’m old, I like to be warm and comfy these days. I no longer believe that looking good has to hurt. Reluctantly, I followed the advice and went without my coat. Standing on the corner shivering in the drizzling rain, I questioned how my fancy night had ended up looking like this.

Once my friend arrived my hopes raised slightly until moments later when we arrived at the pub. Standing outside was a man having a cigarette with a beer belly hanging out from the bottom of his string vest. I think we are slightly overdressed my friend whispered. No s**t Sherlock! I’ve got on a mini dress and heels.

I took a deep breath hoping that inside would be better. The first sight to greet me was a man wearing his painting overalls, clearly a painter and decorator who had come straight from work. He walked up to his friend who had a tool box on the table. My friend and I walked to the empty dance floor looking for the others. Surely they would be here by now, they left before us. They weren’t there. We wondered if we were in the correct place. Had another message gone round with another venue change? It is quite hard to stay on top of all of the messages.

I couldn’t believe that this was our big night ‘out out’!

After half an hour one of our other friends appeared to tell us that they were around the other side of the pub. On the quiet side? Our big night out out with dancing and they are sat on the other side as far away from the dance floor as possible. Oh well. We went round and had a lovely chat catching up with everyone. They were right it was nice to have a conversation which you couldn’t do on the other side as it was too loud. Goodness me, we are old!

Eventually we decided that we best go round to the other side and dance before the pub closed, after all we were all dressed up and the point of the night was to dance and let our hair down.

We were the only ones on the dance floor, dancing cautiously at first. After a couple of songs though we had completely shook off all of our responsibilities and we were young and free again. Laughing and enjoying singing and dancing along to all of the power ballads, making endless requests to the DJ.

By now the pub had filled up quite a bit. Lots of other ladies came to join us on the dance floor. They were so lovely. One lady that I was chatting to was 65. There was definitely an older cliental. My gosh, those ladies were fit. They had endless energy, it was a delight to see.

I had one of the best nights ever. I laughed so much that my face ached. Music has the ability to descend the ages and bridge generational gaps.

Of course all too soon the music ended. Someone suggested that we should go on to somewhere else. The sensible ones said they were tired and were going home. I of course was not one of the sensible ones. Which is how I found myself walking in the cold and wet without a coat looking for the next venue desperately trying to eek out the evening for a while longer. Sadly, the next place was being hired out for a private party that night. Then we tried to go to the chicken shop for a little snack but they were closing up and weren’t serving anymore. Finally, we admitted defeat and got a cab home.

So I didn’t get my fancy pants night out, instead I had one of the best nights out ever filled with love and laughter. I am so grateful that I found such an awesome group of ladies that I am lucky enough to call my friends. It’s really not about where you are it’s about who you are with. That night out was priceless.

I know we have all been dreaming about nights out with friends for a whole year and there were a lot of missed events that everyone wants to finally celebrate with friends. Just remember that while there are many locations the only thing that actually matters is who you are with. Don’t wait for a perfect venue or the perfect time. Just grab your friends and go and dance the night away enjoying one of the main lessons we all learnt during lockdown- people and contact is what really matters. You could be in the dingiest location but if you are with the people you love you will have the best night ever. Don’t over think it just go out and enjoy yourself!