I forgot to tell you – the Sage and I were highly gratified to find that his sale report made the front page of the Ant1ques Tr@de G@zette, the must-have weekly paper for those in the way-beyond-second-hand business. Two photos and an article. He rang the editor to thank him. “I hope you don’t mind me describing you as an ‘enthusiast'” said the editor. “You sound like one.”

No, the Sage didn’t mind. He was chuffed, very.

On a totally different subject, I just opened to door to find a young starling hopping around outside. I can’t remember the last time I saw a starling. There used, periodically, to be whole flocks of them, like something out of Daphne du Maurier, but not for some while. Or is it just that I am not very observant?