The car is still on its holidays in France, some three weeks after I returned. We seem to be managing fine, although this maybe because Mr M has been on his holidays as well, visiting his parents in Australia.

You may wonder why I didn't join him but, while our London flat remains unsold and the bank owns me body and soul, the only option is to travel in economy. I don't do economy at the best of times, but 20 hours in economy to spend two weeks with my mother-in-law sounds like a prize in a Japanese endurance game show, so I was quite happy for him to go alone.