We took the Loch Awe route to the ferry port by car with RG-J, SG and their two children. S was at the wheel, swearing at every turn, while R and I ooh-ed and ah-ed at the full-bloom purple rhodedendrums that lined the route.

When the road narrowed to the point that we could drive no further we bailed out and set off by foot through the snow to the boat. Along the way we picked up some others, including a school party and a man who tried to get me to carry his life-jacket shaped rucksack.

This all seemed to be taking much longer than planned. When I confirmed that the schedule had well and truly slipped, I ran back to hurry along the straggler children. They were unconcerned. No matter how late they turned up, they knew that the Flying Scotsman would wait to take them home.