While TPR enjoyed an early morning run, I promised to stay at home to clear up the chaos of our flat following the previous night’s party. However, I was interrupted before I’d even started. A courtier of Charles II dressed in yellow silks was standing at the front door with an important message.

This little man took my hand and led me away from my wifely duties. Apparently today there was a great treat in store for me. V and C were in town to gather their friends together for an exclusive trip by helicopter. My new friend had come to collect me to join the party.

It took some time to find V and C. Along the route my guide entertained me with stories of his life. He was not, in fact, a real refugee from the seventeenth century, but an actor currently on contract to Disneyland. This explained his comment when we passed a set chessmen the height of windmills playing football in a field. “Just show-off special effects from Harry Potter”, he muttered under his breath. In complete contrast, I was super-impressed with the display.

I asked what my companion did between acting contracts. He mentioned hard labouring jobs such as road building and laying tarmac. This surprised me because the hand that held mine felt so soft.

The “exclusive” helicopter trip turned out not to be quite so exciting as billed. As I was shoved into one of about a dozen blue transit vans packed with other guests to be transported to the airstrip I calculated that our time in the air (once shared out) would be very short. I might as well have stayed at home and tidied up the flat after all.