I had rashly offered to teach one of my new colleagues how to drive. I regarded this offer as a means of helping Gail and her husband out financially. They only had one income between them because the husband stayed at home to look after their ten-month old baby.

In fact my car was completely unsuitable for learners. So it was with great relief that I discovered that another colleague had offered to give instruction in his beat-up, red, mark I, Ford Escort.