Under late June’s ferocious heat dome, during what turned out to be an almost eight-hour drive to join Martin Vander Weyer and his guests for three nights in the Dordogne, my car was telling me it wouldn’t start due to a recurring AdBlue emissions fault. And my old phone was pegging out. At home I hadn’t had hot water – or cold – for five days because the boiler was broken. There was also a leak. I had to turn the water on and off at the mains when I needed it. Life was turning out to be more troglodyte than I bargained for. Although the water, when it ran, was chilly, my brain was overheating even before the temperature hit 44°C in the Dordogne. Like the UK, I don’t have enough income or savings to cover all my bills. Unlike the UK, I’m just myself and lenders won’t ignore my insufficient earnings. I can’t borrow or remortgage. All I can do is work as hard as I can, pray and hope.

I spent 50 years in the west of Scotland so, believe me, I can swear. But this was too much

I spent 50 years in the west of Scotland so, believe me, I can swear. But this was too much

The following week I was in London for Spectator events and, staying with kind friends in Kew, forgot my worries for a few days. They’re great company and live in a big house, full of paintings and comfortable sofas. I enjoyed........

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