Normally we would have flown down to London to catch the onward flight from Heathrow. However, because we were keen to go to MS’s party on Saturday evening, we were obliged to drive down afterwards overnight. It was such a long journey, but at least the motorway was clear for most of the way.

At last we came into north London. It was early Sunday morning, so we were surprised to see a bunch of schoolgirls all dressed in their blue uniforms on their way to lessons. Their rucksacks were packed to brim: these children looked like they spent all their lives studying.

We followed the girls into a stationer’s shop. Once there I had no intention of continuing my journey any further – ever. I was in heaven amongst the beautiful displays of coloured cards, paper and pens. The table of origami sculptures was divine!

The only blot on the landscape was a scruffy man at the till complaining that he’d been unfairly treated by the shop staff. He was granted £30 compensation, took £10 and said that the rest could go to charity. What nobody else knew was that this man owed me an absolute fortune. When was he going to repay me?