Before I saw the table setting, I had already decided the colours of my mother-in-law’s bouquet: pale greens and yellows, with a splash of white. What a coincidence that SLHG had laid out green grapes on pale green Lalique glass plates for breakfast.

Around the table, all three of my sisters-in-law discussed birthday present suggestions for their mother. ‘No more trinkets!’ I interjected.

It looked like I would be ignored – as I was when I told SJMcC that we knew that she had taken up smoking in secret, and that it was high time that she stopped.