Karen Koren: Working out for a night on the town

THE nights are fair drawing in and the dark evenings make me want to curl up in front of the fire. So I am feeling quite proud of the fact that I am still going to the gym two mornings a week.

It nearly kills me each time, but I am beginning, very slowly, to feel the benefit and see an improvement in my girth.

I’m not dieting, as I love my food and white wine too much. However, exercise is the thing that keeps me strong and healthy. Unfortunately, I love nothing better than being a couch potato but the older I get the more I realise I can’t get away with lazing about too much.

I have a lovely young trainer, Cheryl, who comes round twice a week and puts me through my paces. She arrives at 8am and within minutes she has me cursing under my breath and glowing, like a sweaty thing. I can’t say I enjoy it, though I do enjoy feeling bright and awake afterwards.

So much so, I don’t feel guilty going out for lunch once or twice a week, more often than not to Giuliano’s. That’s where I’ll be at the beginning of the week with the girls from work, for a pre-theatre tea, before attending the opening of 9 To 5 at the Playhouse. I’m really looking forward to it.

I’m also going to see Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty in a couple of weeks at the Festival Theatre and later in the month I have tickets for the amazing Dirty Dancing, which I am going to with Katy, my daughter - it was always her favourite film and I think she could quote every line.

Finally, I have tickets for the panto at the King’s, which will be during the Christmas holiday period. If only all theatre productions could sell as well as the panto does - can’t wait.