I hoped for good weather to show off the highlands to my sister-in-law SB. She had never travelled so far up the country before and I wanted her first impressions of the north of Scotland to be memorable for the right reasons. I was both delighted and relieved when, at last, the clouds parted to reveal the beauty of the hilly crags set against blue skies.

We broke the journey in a pretty town north of Aberdeen. As we walked the length of the high street I wondered if this was where Professor PR lived. There were certainly plenty of antique shops here to keep him entertained. In one shop window I spotted an unusual green glug jug. I would have loved to pop in and check the price but I knew that my mother would worry if we were late. I therefore worked hard to ignore the temptation and marched briskly past the shop, SB in tow behind me.

Then my iPhone rang. The call from New York was a job offer from the United Nations. I was furious that they had even dared to call. Surely they knew that I should never be disturbed when on holiday?!