Blackened kitchen units and ceiling, melted appliances and food packets, the warped blind at the window: they were like festering scars on Zinnia and George’s sweet little terraced house in Peterborough. The smoke had painted long black-brown shadows in the hall and sitting room too.

George had burns to his hands and wasn’t allowed to help with the clear-up when Lily, Roma and Patsie drove over on Saturday afternoon. Zinnia hugged everyone and cried. Even if helping meant she didn’t get to singing practice, Lily knew she’d done the right thing as she watched her mum and Patsie bundle back their hair, roll up their sleeves and wage war against the greasy black soot. Later, as sleet whispered at the windows, they all squashed cosily into the sitting room together and ate fish and chips from a nearby takeaway.

The next day, Sunday, Lily wasn’t due at the pub till evening so had plenty of time to devote to a planning meeting with Carola. It was only two weeks and one day before they’d be on their way to Switzerland! Owen cooked Sunday lunch in Carola’s large, well-equipped kitchen watching the grand prix on the kitchen TV through his trendy glasses while Lily and Carola sat at the dining room table with lists. They went over the programmes, who’d share rooms, a checklist for instruments and equipment. Lists, more lists, and lists of lists.

Over the following couple of days Lily felt as if she ate and slept the Switzerland trip. After Max’s approval she sent the final files to the printer for clings, backdrops and signage – which would be applied by a crew in Schützenberg as she travelled from England and would be in place when she arrived – and reconfirmed details of the rented furniture for the trade fair stand. Then she sent her video loops to Max and copied in Kirstin, another contact on the show team.

On Wednesday evening they rehearsed the songs to be performed at Food, Lifestyle & Health in programme order. At nine they took a break to eat fruit loaf Carola had made, then Lily broke out the black overshirts that had arrived earlier in the week.

‘This is a freakin’ tent!’ Eddie mocked, holding his up.

‘Or a bedspread,’ Warwick contributed, curling his lip as he inspected his shirt front and back.

Warwick was never shy at voicing his opinion and knowing others often took their lead from him and seeing Charlotte and Emily already rolling girly eyes, Lily hastened to head him off before she got a chorus of, ‘Not wearing that!’ from the teenagers. ‘I don’t think they’ll be too big, actually. Everybody put your coat on and do it up. Now put the shirts over the top, and add your hat and scarf.’

With a show of reluctance from some, everyone complied. ‘There! We look great,’ Carola said, adjusting the angle of her hat.