On the approach to Northallerton, I quickly responded to the questions of fellow rail travellers about my family by showing them the photographs that I kept in my holdall. I then packed the photos away under my three cashmere jumpers, left my seat, and readied to leave the train.

The plan was to meet the others at Preston Park Museum in Eaglescliffe. This was some distance away from Northerallerton, but I had packed a perfect mode of transport for the journey – an Edinburgh tram! I left GG almost at a standstill on his bike as I manoeuvred the tram out of Northallerton station and on to the open road.

It was only as I was trundling past lush North Yorkshire meadows that I considered the crime of stealing a tram and the practicalities of returning it to the depot in Edinburgh without being noticed.  This turned out to be the least of my worries, however, when I discovered that my holdall was no longer in my possession.

The questions about my family on the train had been part of an elaborate scam. Somewhere near Darlington someone was now masquerading as me and spending all my savings.