My sister J and her husband M decided to move to Edinburgh. They took a quick look at my flat, pulled out a pad of paper, and drew up some plans. Their big idea was to buy my flat and improve it. Meanwhile, I could go and live elsewhere. I doubted that they could afford to do this. In any case, they would never get planning permission – especially when they indicated that they would be sending their proposals to Newcastle (as opposed to Edinburgh) City Council. Even so, I found it all deeply distressing.

Events the next day at R and SL’s house upset me further. My nephew P’s cold behaviour and snarky response to my question about his viewing of The traitors series 3 were completely out of character. I ran into the kitchen and called him a git (completely out of character for me too). Then, on the way home through the New Town, I lost TPR. The only happy moment of the whole evening came when we watched the starling murmurations over the park from R and S’s kitchen window.