Guy, Erica, Klaus, Ryan and me. Guy is my ex-boss from Mitsui, where he, Ryan and Klaus work. Erica and Ryan were married last year, and like Aki and Guy, they met at Mitsui many years ago.

Guy and Aki hosted us for a lovely weekend with an abundant and steady flow of food, drink and friendship. As Klaus travelled from Kent in his 2CV, and I travelled from Bloomsbury on my Vespa, we stayed the night and enjoyed the hospitality of Guy's and Aki's B&B invitation - and just as well, because we were still up enjoying brandy and port in Guy's front room when sunrise was imminent and the morning birds started chirping!

And yes, this is a very typical impression of Ryan, famous for his most colourful drinking, skiing, Marathon, drinking and more drinking stories...