I could blame Linda’s scrumptious gingerbread or her hangover-inducing Christmas pudding but whatever the cause my jeans felt a bit tight when I pulled them on this morning. After ten days off work, most of it spent at home with my mum’s cooking, it was definitely time to get back on my bike.

The weather didn’t agree. There was a hard frost last night and I had to cycle with great care to avoid skidding on black ice and ending up under the wheels of a truck. I don’t usually think it’s acceptable for adults to cycle on the pavements (or sidewalks as they call them stateside), but it was the only way I could arrive at the library with all my limbs intact.

I locked my bike and slipped into the warm library. The heating has been great since Linda and Boss Lady stopped fight...

Please subscribe to keep reading.