My summer sojourn has ended and rather like the aged retainer being sent in advance to the Scottish estate to see the place is properly aired I have been “airing” my office, in preparation for September.

I like London in August (despite only having been here for a week of it). It’s relatively empty; it seems imbued with a more Mediterranean, relaxed spirit; you need no reservations for restaurants, traffic is light and generally the populace seems inclined towards a sunny disposition. As a friend said to me: “It’s so relaxing. No one has firm plans, everything is impromptu and you feel like you could be living in Barcelona.”