‘So,’ Jules says, ‘let’s start by talking about where you are now.’ We are installed on my sofa, with a coffee each, having just started my first life coaching session. Of course, she doesn’t mean where I am physically. She means mentally, emotionally – all the inner stuff.

With Izzy out with her dad for the day, I’d hoped that Jules would march right in and give me an extensive list of instructions for how I might fix my life. Now I realise it doesn’t work like that. She has explained that a coach’s role is to help you to identify where you are now, what’s going on around you and where you would like to be. I guess it’s a little like finding yourself in an unfamiliar city and stopping to ask a passer-by, ‘Excuse me, d’you know the way to the railway station?’ And they look thoughtful and say, ‘Well, it might be that way. Or it could be down there. Which way do you think it is?’ Which is sod all use, when you think about it. You’d miss your train.

‘I don’t really know where to start,’ I admit.

‘Well, we could talk about how you’re feeling generally,’ she explains, looking relaxed and about twenty-five in indigo dungarees and a fresh white T-shirt. ‘And then we can take things from there.’

I clear my dry throat and adjust my position in an attempt to appear more at ease. ‘Well, you know a lot’s happened over the past few months,’ I begin. ‘Andy’s gone. Izzy seems to be coping fine, which I’m grateful for and pretty amazed by, to be honest.’ I hesitate, and Jules nods encouragingly. ‘Shall I talk about work too?’

‘Yes, if you’d like to. Feel free to mention anything that comes to mind.’

‘Erm, well, there are huge changes going on. Since the rabbit food scandal the whole company is being given a major overhaul. It’s a way of rescuing our reputation, I suppose. And Rose has promised that she has something in mind for me, something new and exciting, but she hasn’t told me what that is yet.’ I pause and sip my coffee. Even though we’re friends, or possibly because of that, it feels odd, talking to her like this.

‘How do you feel about that?’ she asks.

‘Oh, really happy,’ I say. ‘I’m so ready to move on with work, Jules. I feel like I’m treading water, to be honest, but I don’t know what to do about it.’

‘I’m not surprised, with everything that’s happened in your personal life these last few months. Would you say that’s taken priority lately?’

‘Yes, definitely,’ I reply.

‘Okay,’ she says. ‘So, without thinking too hard, can you describe, in just a couple of words, how you would like to be, right at this moment, in an ideal world?’