As mentioned previously I’ve often thought that Michael is similar to my dad in many ways. However, I’m beginning to wonder if rather than having ‘married my father’ as the saying goes, I have in fact ‘married my aunty’.

Aunty Janet has an unbelievable knack of being anywhere, anytime, and still be able to make friends. On a train, a park bench, a supermarket – anywhere, Janet will make acquaintance with total strangers, and within minute, she’ll have extracted their whole life story.

It turns out that despite his protests of being a very ‘anti-social person’; on this holiday he’s channeling his inner aunt J. Whether it’s visiting ancient monuments, in a hotel restaurant or on public transport, Michael has been striking up a conversation with lots of complete strangers. If it turns out they have a dog, bingo! He can exchange dog stories with them for as long as they like.

It’s actually very nice to watch, and in a slightly odd reversal of personalities, it’s me who is quite reserved when we’re with new people. I’d rather hang back, listen, get the lay of them before I dive in. I’ll leave Michael to find out the back story, and if they sound nice, I’ll join in later. Go ‘aunty Michael’.