Perched on the jump seats that faced backwards out of the boot we stared mesmerised as the car following behind lit up the Cat's Eyes on the road, trailing dots flashing to life and then vanishing like fireflies. The family Volvo weaved down the fern covered lanes through the darkness until we turned up the drive to Grace’s Cottage. Nana smiled out from under her horn-rimmed glasses at the door, inside an electric fire burnt brightly and sleepy children were deposited onto sofa beds.

        The next day we would play skittles in the pub and once the adults were in good spirits we returned to the cottage garden for an egg hunt. We ran breathlessly around the cold frames. The older children with their wicker baskets would read out clues as the younger children in their wellies listened in earnest. ‘You cannot walk through me but you can see through me’. Off everyone would dart to the strawberry nets looking for a glint of shiny foil.

To the victor the spoils.