We were back at Linda’s, bright and early on a Saturday morning. The sheep chewed outside the kitchen door.

I turned towards Linda as Delphine began a writing task that Linda had just set. ‘Linda, do you think I should send Delphine to Penglais?’

Linda looked up from Delphine’s work. ‘Do you have to?’ she asked.

I gulped. ‘Well, no I don’t have to.’

She looked relieved. ‘That’s good. Because I think she’ll learn more with you than if she goes to that school. I’m not being funny.