All the toilets at York railway station were out of order – and I was desperate to go to the loo. The only option was to catch the next train south, travel 125 miles to Peterborough, and use the facilities there.

As I boarded the next train for London Kings Cross, my book group pals agreed to look after all my stuff. Amongst these was the handbag that contained all my cash, cards, phone, and train tickets for my return journey to Edinburgh. If I needed to pay for anything en route, such as a return fare to Peterborough, I was in trouble.

Then there was the question of my destination. This Kings Cross train only made one stop – at a small Home Counties town called Amos, serviced by LNER just once a day. As soon as I disembarked, I realised that I was stranded with no means to pay for anything. Worst of all, although Amos was very pretty and overrun with beautiful boutiques, the one and only station toilet was closed.

Later a swarm of miniature starlings landed on my blue cardigan. If only I had my iPhone to photograph them.