The journey to Naviglio passed quickly in Mathias’s undemanding company and he parked with casual expertise in the busy city, steering me towards the most suitable shop without difficulty.

I was impressed and wondered whether Mathias had the habit of bringing his girlfriend out for shopping too often.

He agreed to wait for me in a café nearby with a refreshing drink for a company so that I was able to look around the shops without too many Qualms. I had already decided what I had to buy for Tio. But a local gift for Ria and Marc would be foolish. I would send them something from London perhaps a...