As the creeping new lockdown hits, many chums are back working back at home in the suburbs and, whisper it very quietly, even Monaco and the Grand Caymans – although these of course are not related to holidays.

All this leaves us appallingly bereft of confidants. Damn it, one does so dreadfully miss gossiping with one’s peers.

Offices in the Square Mile are quite deserted again while Canary Wharf has largely been given over to seagulls. On street corners in Canada Square, sad dealers are spoof trading the Big Issue between them to try and produce a decent margin.

I was thus delighted this week to find, tuc...