I took a huge risk crossing the strait by canoe without a life-jacket, but made it safely to Radcliffe-on-Trent.

I realised my mistake the moment that I intercepted my sister-in-law JLR and niece F, who were on their way to the swimming pool for the afternoon. My ‘surprise’ was to them an extremely unwelcome interruption to their regular routine.

I said that I would check into the closest Premier Inn rather than impose myself on them. (In any case, I couldn’t remember their address, and I now doubted that JLR would ever give it to me.)

When I heard that RJH was also in the vicinity, I invited him to join me at the hotel.