Don’t you just hate staying in day after day? Don’t you get fed up with the short days of winter, especially when it’s cloudy and rainy, and so dark indoors that you need to put lights on? Indeed, my sore throat had necessitated some preventative cossetting and keeping out of the wind and rain, which is all very well and good on miserable days; but what is one supposed to do when the sun beckons?

You fancy that your throat is better, you don a colourful coat, a warm scarf and sunglasses, and you greet the outside world with the same pleasure as a holidaymaker visiting your home-town for the first time. You notice the birds in the trees, the animals in the fields and funny little dogs with balls in their mouths; you love the red cliffs against sky blue, the sun sparkling on the sea and the passing trains in liveries of yellow, or blue and purple, or silver and red ; you wave, even at the smaller local trains – and even they (the drivers) wave back or toot (by accident). And you meet your neighbours and friends – all smiles and bonhomie – mostly wearing colourful coats… and scarves… because they have “a bit of a sore throat”.