At last, Liam’s liberation day has come to pass. Six weeks following surgery on his shoulder to repair a rotator cuff tear, Liam can finally fling that sling. He’s cleared the first hurdle in an ouch-ouch-ouch, pill-popping, slow-shuffle marathon that will last up to six months. We’re both mightily relieved. Me, because the end is nigh for my chief cook and bottle washer days and saintly Florence Nightingale ways. He, because he’s well on recovery road, and evil Nurse Ratched will soon hang up his apron and cap for good.

Thank you to all those who rallied round with cards and kind words, pot plants, lifts, fizz, tasty ox cheeks and spicy sausage casseroles. You know who you are.