How fortunate that AM and I were allocated to the same hotel bedroom. Without her tutoring, I would never have known that bedside light fittings also double up as iPhone chargers, nor would I have had access to the wide range of tea that she carries everywhere.

AM was also a lot more fun than our other room mates. TPR and SG spent most of the time asleep. Even the succession of green and white budgerigars that landed noisily in our room did not stir them.

The budgies were all ill. It was up to me and AM to explain to their owners why the little birds flew so haphazardly. They had all suffered tiny strokes and would soon depart this world for birdy heaven.