She had a husband, children and grandchildren who loved her; a beautiful home, enough money. What sort of person was able to feel so overwhelmed with gloom and resentment on Christmas morning?

They have been close friends for almost two decades, supporting each other through personal and professional crises – parents dying, children leaving home, house moves, job changes, political activism and really bad haircuts.

Now the ‘gang of four’, Isabel, Sally, Robin and Grace, are all fifty-something, successful … and restless.