I was in Paris for an academic conference. Just a couple of stops along the Metro were my sister-in-law JLR and my niece F, now aged 16. I missed sessions, dressed in a white hotel towel and plastic high heels to be with my relations and dish out advice on acne.

It was a pity that my knowledge of the Paris streets had diminished over the years and it took me so long to get from one part of the city to another.