Trying to find my way back to Melbourne Road yesterday, travelling on my bike from the centre of town, I found myself pedalling along the wall. What a pleasant peranbul it was, to be sure, with scenes of ladies in white bowling, cricket players employing the gentle art of watching and waiting, peoples’ back gardens in full bloom, giggling schoolgirls getting out of my way, a couple of matrons pursing their lips, with the cathedral spire always in view. Eventuallly finding myself where I wanted to be, which was near the dhalia beds around New Park Centre, I realised I had done a 350 degree tour, and that I had started off in the wrong direction just a few yards from where I was now.

I’ll never get the hang of the geography of Chichester.