Many, many readers have written in with condolences. Heartfelt thanks to all. I shall answer all individually over the next day or two.

Our beloved Boris will be leaving us this morning, after 15½ years of unqualified devotion. I am bearing up pretty well – you know what a cold-hearted lot the English are – but my poor wife is utterly distraught, and I am doing my incompetent best to act as comforter to her.

Before the kids left for school** this morning, we told them to say their goodbyes to Boris, who came to us before either child was born, and has been a constant feature of the world for their whole lives. Many tears, though Danny (12) did his best to play the man, bless him.

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** When you have a Chinese Mom, nothing gets you a day off school.