Over three decades had elapsed since my last encounter with this group of girls from my first secondary school, and I was curious to know what had become of them. In the course of conversation arch-bully CMcG confirmed that she had joined the forces. Unfortunately no one knew what had become of timid GT, other than she was widowed young. It was interesting to learn that LMc had been in care the whole time that we knew her.

As soon as the cinema lights dimmed I left the girls at the back of the room and took a seat to watch the film. From this position, however, the sound quality that very poor. I left my place and walked all the way to the front of the theatre to look for a better seat. A bunch of geeks dominated the front row engrossed in their interactive cinema consoles. If I sat with them I would have to put up with the clicking of their devices. I decided on a seat about five rows back, but even here there was a problem. DC and his cronies from Imperial complained that the position of my head spoilt their view of the screen. This was hopeless: I left.

On the way out I bumped into NU and RK. NU introduced me as the ‘colleague who blogs her crazy dreams’ to his friends from his theatre group. His lack of awareness that he was starring in an unfolding revery as he spoke amused me no end. NU and RK invited me along to a Fringe performance in another venue so I followed them along the bridges. I was appalled at the price of drinks at the makeshift bar: £9.60 for two glasses of bottled water. I refused to pay.

Meanwhile the police opened an investigation into the long-ago death of my aunt. Our world took a Stieg Larrson-type plot turn and I feared for my cousins’ safety.