Out of the blue I heard that I had been named as a co-investigator on a UK Digital Economy Programme Network+ grant on the theme of ‘Place’. The project would be led by a colleague at the University of St Andrews, who had recently returned to work following a period of maternity leave.

Our first project meeting took place in a posh hotel high on a cliff overlooking a golf course and the sea. Here we would plan the events for the network programme.

A member of hotel staff tidied up while we discussed how to spend the grant. She threw a pile of papers on to the fire, amongst them all the signed documentation related to our funding, including sponsorship agreements with several large companies.

Despite our best efforts with soft furnishings, we failed to put out the flames and save the contracts. Our project was over before it even began.