After a quiet Christmas Day, TPR and I set off to visit KR. It was a long time since we had driven in the US, and the first time that we had taken our own right-hand drive vehicle on the American freeways.

I was quite happy in the passenger seat until we hit a medieval town. TPR panicked as he struggled to negotiate the narrow alleyways and tight bends of the one-way traffic system. The most terrifying moment came in the underpass when a host of beggars crowded round the car demanding hand-outs.