The house floated across the flooded causeway, drifting from its usual base on Holy Island. I assured everyone that all would be fine. The tide would reach the doorway, but was certain to subside soon afterwards, and we were all safe.

JC remained unconvinced, and jumped at the chance of rescue when her husband G turned up in an open top car.

G drove us to Haddington. Here we walked through a graveyard full of tombs that marked the final resting place of members of the Foil family, and met a woman who grew red wild carnations along her driveway in the middle of winter.

We ended the day on a pub and party crawl with our school friend NB, and Edinburgh pals JM and AC.