I decided that it was time to give the upstairs a really good clean, and was going great guns at the tidying prior to cleaning.

Then I found the fluff under the radiator. Not any old fluff, but cat hair. Not any old cat hair, but Cally's. Suddenly there were tears in my eyes, and I couldn't bring myself to clear away this last tangible link with her. Will I live forever with lumps of fluff in the darkest corner of the landing, or will father have to deal with them?

The really odd thing is that I am not a cryer in the general run of events. I don't cry over books or films. I don't cry at weddings or funerals. I don't cry when I say goodbye at stations or airports (or more usually our garden gate). But just occasionally something takes me by surprise and I just fill up.