‘Every year I tell myself I’m calling in sick on party day,’ said Rose, less than half an hour later, ‘and every year I turn up.’

‘It really wouldn’t be fair to let everyone else take the strain, would it?’

‘No,’ she said, ‘I suppose not, but my god it’s tempting.’

‘Here we go, look,’ said Paul, who had been trying to get everyone’s attention so he could set up a quiet game of pass the parcel, ‘reinforcements.’

Three members of the PTA had kindly shown up to help out and just as Paul was on the point of shouting himself hoarse, Alison marched in from reception and gave three sharp blasts on a whistle. The children stopped in their tracks and we quickly corralled them into two circles.

‘Run back to class and get my whistle would you please, Hattie?’ Paul asked me, looking a little embarrassed. ‘I should have thought of it earlier.’

The afternoon was exhausting, but great fun and the children weren’t the only ones with sweaty face by the time three o’clock rolled around. Thanks to Dolly being in situ next to the snacks there were far fewer children feeling nauseous than I had expected, and the only injury was a grazed knee.

‘Well if you will skid across the floor with bare legs,’ I heard Rose saying to a tearful girl as she led her out.

‘Not a single clash of heads,’ Paul said cheerfully, as the children lined up to go back to class. ‘I’d call that a success, wouldn’t you?’

As far as I was concerned the whole day had been a success. I’d had a far better time than I imagined I would and I was looking forward to getting home with Dolly and ticking a few things off the Wish List. I was definitely in the swing of it all now; my festive memory slots were filling up fast and keeping busy was helping distract me from mulling over the unfortunate Christmas card incident, my crush on Beamish and my silence about Jonathan.

‘How are you feeling?’ I asked Dolly as I emptied the last of the snacks which had been subjected to so many hot little hands, into a bin bag.

‘Much better,’ she said. ‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching you joining in wearing that jumper.’

I’d forgotten all about my flashing boobs.

‘I think we can safely tick Christmas clothes off the Wish List,’ I laughed. ‘And Christmas party.’

‘Yes,’ she smiled back. ‘This wasn’t quite what I had in mind when we added that one, but this afternoon just about covers it.’

‘And tomorrow it’s the bake sale and auction in town. I can’t wait to see those.’

‘Steady on,’ said Dolly, still smiling, ‘you’re beginning to sound almost enthusiastic about it all.’

‘I think she’s found her festive mojo at last,’ laughed Rose, who was sweeping nearby.