Maureen stood beside me – she could see I was upset too and put her arm around me, whispering to me not to cry. Then a stern lecture began, as it was made clear to Alan that foul language would not be tolerated in the house.
It seemed an age before he was put across the woman’s knee – his head leaning over one side, his feet dangling over the other (and not reaching the ground) and his small bottom perched up on her lap. Her smacking hand seemed huge as it landed firmly and squarely covering each cheek; first one, then the other.