We’d acquired a dog, but I knew that TPR already regretted taking on this bouncy black spaniel. One morning I discovered that he had not taken the poor pooch out the house even once the previous day. Even so, she had managed not to disgrace herself.

I found her lead and took her straight out for a walk – but then I lost her. TPR didn’t care that she was gone.

When we found her later at the side of the road TPR looked very disappointed, and was reluctant to let her into our car. However, she was extremely keen to bounce her way back into our lives – with three American children in tow.