Sally's mother

This is the mother of my very oldest school friend.

Sally and I met on our first ever day at school: miserable four-year-olds who really really didn't to be there at all. But we didn't have a choice in the matter.

We've remained friends in the decades since, though these days she lives on the other side of the world.

She generally comes home once a year to see her family, and most particularly her remarkable mother, also a paediatric doctor.

Who is sitting here contemplating the imminent publication of her life work.

"I don't want them to take too long about it," she says. "After all, I am 92."