I knew that I had blown it when DM refused to hand over her car keys. I wanted to retrieve my flat shoes from the boot and exchange them for my high heels. Then I would be able to manage the steep cobbled streets of Pitlochry more easily and keep up with other members of my book group as SC showed us her home town.

DM was cross with me for my childish behaviour over the past couple of days. I really had done my best to be a grown-up, but I just couldn’t help myself. The last straw came when she caught me swinging on the front passenger car seat.

‘I will keep you on my list of contacts’, she sneered, ‘But don’t expect any favours from me’. In that instant I also understood that our wee holiday together in May was cancelled.