The grande finale of the Canadian delegation’s visit to Scotland was a massive dinner and ceilidh in Edinburgh. Conversation was so animated at my table that I broke three pairs of glasses while entertaining my own Canadian cousins. After three weeks together we got on brilliantly. The only issue that we did not agree on was religion but, up to this point, none of us had mentioned their membership of the strange Christian sect. Somehow the conversation moved on to same-sex relationships and the visitors budged uncomfortably in their seats. “We’ve never even seen a single gay person, let alone met a couple” announced one. I had to put her right. After three weeks in our company, and seemingly without realising it, they had become acquainted with lots of our gay friends. However, before I got the chance to say anything, the conversation was interrupted by an announcement that a video would be displayed. This short film, starring Peppa Pig on location in Stockton-on-Tees, explained the steps of ceilidh dancing. Once again I was delighted that Stockton had popped up unexpectedly in my life.

Another day I visited my parents. Their latest obsession appeared to be toast. The downstairs rooms were littered with toast racks, some full and some empty. Open jam-jars and discarded plates lay everywhere. This would take some time to tidy up.

Meanwhile the latest craze on the Isle of Skye was grass sledging. The concept was quite simple: get a fertiliser bag, find a slope and sledge. The real interest lay in the extreme version of the sport along the cliff edges of Waternish.