[user104658]

Originally Posted by chuff me dizzy

Kim proved what a lovely lady she was by taking time to chat to Nicola about it,and Nicola seems to take it all on board until someone walked into the kitchen area, and her mood changed right away

You could see on her face that she was on the verge of tears, because she knows that it's true.

At this point I have much more time for Nicola than any of the other ganghanders. Most of them seem to be spiteful just out of arrogance (Calum) or .. ... to be blunt, because they're a bit thick and don't know any better (Jamie, Bianca). Nicola can see and acknowledges the unpleasant side of herself and I think it all does come down to, as Kim says, a deep unhappiness and a frankly not-very-pleasant personal life with very little genuine love or affection in it.

The only reason I struggle with properly sympathising with her situation is that she chose it, for the lifestyle and the money (NEVER going to make ANYONE happy!) and is still choosing it despite being completely miserable with it.