AG showed me, fellow school friend HH, and KL around the house that he rented on Bishopton Road West in Stockton-on-Tees. He explained that ST used it from time to time too as a work base when travelling away from home.

I was curious as to why the rooms were so bare. “That’s because we only watch videos here” AG informed me. KL cast me a curious look from her spot on the floor where she was learning the lines for her next theatrical performance: soon she would be playing the female lead in a famous Greek tragedy. Sensing that this might be a sensitive issue, I swiftly changed the subject and congratulated HH on her recent running-on-the-spot marathon success.