PC and I were finally reunited after thirty-one years apart, and I was delighted.

We had known one another since aged 7 at primary school right up to the point that we took our A levels in 1981. Now PC was working for a London-based charity that supported visual and performing artists, educated the public in the arts, and promoted the arts, and I was an academic in Edinburgh.

We came across one another again at an event on interaction design. PC wanted to set up a project in Edinburgh, possibly with the involvement of the art college. I saw my chance for us to renew our acquaintance and offered to help. PC seemed interested – hurrah!

The only problem was a rival suitor in the form of a senior design academic from another institution. His ears pricked up on hearing our plans and he beetled over from the other side of the common room to join in our conversation. This was a disaster: he would steal PC and our proposed project!

As my sense of panic rose, PC winked at me. With this I understood that the project would be ours, all ours, and ours alone.