My nine-year-old daughter Alice thinks her cousin Beth is absolutely wonderful. To be fair, Beth has always been great with Alice up until now, but I think she’s going through a stage where she finds her younger cousin a bit babyish. I’ll have to think of some activities that will interest them both.

‘Don’t worry, Mads, Toby and I will make sure she has a great time with us.’

‘Thanks, Zoe. Beth might be tricky, but Freya will be a breeze. She can’t wait.’ My youngest niece is six, the same age as my son Jamie, and the two of them adore one another.

‘Bet you and Nick are looking forward to it, too.’

‘We really are. I hope he’s going to be okay for it though. He’s a little peaky at the moment.’

‘Really?’ Celia’s head snaps up at the mention of one of her beloved sons being under the weather. ‘What’s the matter with him?’

‘Sorry, Celia, didn’t mean to worry you. He’s fine. Just a little bit pale and he hasn’t got a very good appetite at the moment. Nothing serious though.’

‘Poor Nick,’ I add. ‘There are a few winter bugs going around. Fingers crossed he feels better for your trip.’ Selfishly I worry that they’ll be ill and won’t be able to make it to the anniversary party.

‘I’ll bring him round some of my soup,’ Celia offers. ‘That’ll perk him up.’

‘Thank you.’ Madeline gives her a grateful smile, although as she’s a caterer, the one thing Nick is never short of is good food.

‘So, how many RSVPs for the party have you had so far?’ Celia asks me, changing the subject.

‘Almost fifty yesses. I can’t believe so many people are coming.’ I feel a brief flutter of anxiety. ‘You don’t think it might all be too much, do you? The party I mean?’

‘Too much?’ Celia and Madeline give me a questioning look.

‘Yes, I mean, do you think people will think it’s over the top? Most couples do something for their silver or golden wedding anniversaries, but ten years… is it naff?’

‘Don’t be daft,’ Celia says. ‘Everyone loves a party. And your wedding was such a wonderful day, why wouldn’t you want to recreate it?’