My mother always claims I take on too much work because I don’t trust others to do things to my exacting standards. Naturally I don’t agree with her. She does that, but it’s not my style. I’m much more relaxed. Checking Linda’s work is basic self-preservation as I end up having to fix her messes.

Danielle, the quiet-spoken leader of the Secret Teen Book Club since Simon went to study medicine at university, has proven to be a more efficient worker than Linda, thank goodness. Saint Patrick’s Day this year turned out to be a pleasure rather than my usual high-stress panic attack. All I had to do was devise a book-ish costume for myself and walk the route with our library community groups.

Book costumes are tricky. Some, like Russell’s Twilight costume last year, run...

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