I bumped into my school friend KC (wearing a hideous pale blue fake satin 1980s style ballgown) and her daughter K at a service station on the M5. The daughter explained that she had just finished teacher training. She asked if I could offer her any career advice. “Don’t go into teaching”, I replied.

Towards the end of the conversation I acknowledged that KC was not wearing a wedding ring and that her daughter’s surname was not the same as her own. “That’s because D and I are getting divorced” said KC. “You’ll read more about it in our Christmas newsletter”.