The guest house on the Isle of Lewis offered upgraded facilities, including a beautiful marble block of changing rooms and toilets close to the beach, and giant butterfly-shaped kites to play with on the shore. Downstairs in the main house there was a magnificent French library that was so exclusive that a British Library membership card was insufficient to grant full access. Even the sea itself had undergone a makeover: the waves were much bigger and more active than before.

Our party of friends for the holiday was complete when JS joined us. We were so excited find one another on the beach that we didn’t spot a huge wave coming towards us. It soaked us as it crashed onto the shore.

I led JS and her husband RR over to the others and AH did the honour of introducing them to everyone else. I wondered if JS and JC would remember one another from their last encounter.

On our way back to our rooms ST congratulated me on an excellent choice of holiday venue. “You’ve seen nothing yet”, I replied. “Just wait until you see what’s for dinner”.