The ants won in the end, as they often do: the Houseproud household decamped at the start of the Pandemic to a new home, one that came with a cat and far fewer ants, and we like it that way.

I have missed chatting with you, my pets, so I wanted to wave in your general direction to say hello before returning to my chores. Are you and yours weathering the storms as well as can be hoped for? Are you calm – or calm enough – and full of wonderful plans and schemes? I am, and I hope that you are, too.