As I was wheeling my suitcase slowly up a hill, I was accosted by two men, drinking cans of lager and invading my personal space. My normal response in such situations (aggressive, foul language) was not working and I felt a small flicker of concern about where this was going. Suddenly, the two men were joined by a third friend who fell noisily onto the pavement. This diversion meant I could continue on to my hotel.

The next morning, I tumbled sleepily out of bed, opened the curtains and was surprised to see my hotel room was on the touchline at Villa Park. A small crowd cheered half-heartedly at my bed-hair and knickers.

Later I was in the front bedroom of my former best friend, helping her open her time capsule box. In the box we discovered one of the best selling books of 1999 – The Lonely Planet Guide to Gwyneth Paltrow.