I sat at the vast picture window to admire the autumn colours across the valley below. Although we missed city living, I loved our new house in the country.

I was also very proud of my new wardrobe. Inside it, I had organised all my clothes by colour. These included a huge number of brand new, very expensive, chiffon blouses.

Also stored in the wardrobe was the pink knitwear that I had stolen the day that TPR gave away my bike to a needy family. If this child was getting my bike, I was entitled to something in return. ‘The mother won’t miss a couple of cardigans’, I thought on the day that the deal was done.