Way out in the countryside, we both had to laugh. This icon of British communications stood alone, passed by in an age of individual ownership of modern technology, almost an anachronism with noone around. Was it left behind by mistake? Was it even still connected to anything? We didn’t need to try it out, having two little ones of our own in our pockets.

But yay, I’m safely back, and what an adventure it was!

Four flights of 6 hours, 13 hours, 3 hours and 1 hour, with the rest of 36 hours waiting at airports, did make for an exhausting return. We were greeted by the open resentment of neglected household appliances… microwave oven display turning purple, washing machine emptying all its water out on the floor, car battery playing dead, and somewhere bleeding out oil. Being given a rest, did they really think I should have taken them away on vacation as well? Ungrateful lot, they sure are. If so, young son was certainly of like mind with his thoughtful, well reasoned and entirely logical explanation… we obviously should have taken him too!

It’s taking a while to get back to writing. Some of my friends are prodding me now - yes, waving at you gentle prodders! - and I will be back into it soon.