‘Each to their own. And you can always use me as an excuse if they try to rope you into anything you don’t fancy. Say we’ve already arranged something. A drive to the sea, maybe. Which is still on offer, by the way, with or without the swimming. You’re not the only one who needs a spot of company every now and then.’

‘How is Barbara? You not visiting her today?’

‘I probably will later. She’ll have the kids there this afternoon, and I don’t want to miss seeing them. Might even tempt them back over here for a while later. They can’t come often but they won’t miss Mother’s Day. They’re good girls, both of them.’ He looked around at the various tables placed around the edges of the hall, read the category cards, and deposited his wine on one table and the cake, which he had now pulled out of its tin, on another.

‘They look lovely. Did you make them?’

‘Of course. With my own fair hands. Thought I might as well have a go at the men’s categories this year. Give old Ken a run for his money. Not that there’ll be many entries, but it’s a bit of fun, isn’t it? And we usually get to taste everything, once the judges have been. You must be sure to try my elderberry wine. Brings hairs to your chest. Or is it tears to your eyes? One or the other!’

I could do with a few new hairs, or just a proper chest, come to that, Madi thought, smiling to herself, but she didn’t say it out loud. The last thing she wanted was to make poor Tom feel as if he’d put his foot in it.

Tom went to a small desk that had been set up at the front and paid his entry fees, collected the cards he needed, filled in his name and placed them next to his entries, face downwards.

‘The judges only turn them over after they’ve decided the winners, so it’s all anonymous,’ he explained. ‘Not that I’m likely to be picked, but you never know your luck.’

‘I suppose today will be my chance to meet a lot of new people, won’t it? Everyone gathered together in one place, taking a peek at the newcomer. I should have put my best wig on.’

‘You have more than one?’

‘Just joking. Best to make fun of myself. So much better than others doing it for me.’

‘Madi, stop it. Nobody is going to make fun of you, with or without the wig. And, for the record, I much preferred seeing you without it.’

‘One person at a time isn’t so scary, but I’m not quite ready to face the world at large just yet, Tom. Step by step, eh?’

‘Whatever you feel comfortable with. Now, let’s see if those scones are ready yet, shall we? It’s the real reason I’ve come, you know. Faith’s strawberry jam is to die for. And I could murder a cup of tea.’