Mr A has always prided himself on taking care of the garden but with failing eyesight and diminished flexibility they haven't been able to manage, and the well-intentioned mint he had planted years earlier was starting to take over the bed and crowd out everything else.

I spent a happy hour in the company of Mrs A who held the bag while I wrenched out the plants and their accompanying roots, until a complete downpour (and another two shortly after) forced us to take shelter. However I was determined to finish, and with just a few mint stalks left to get, I ventured out in the lighter rain to gather them in, much to the consternation of Mr A who insisted enough was enough.

As I left, he warmed my heart by saying it was the nicest thing anyone had done for them in years, and it was an absolute pleasure for me to do so.