When I was a boy, my best mate was Matthew [all names changed – Ed], and he and I spent a lot of time at each other’s houses. I was an only child, but Matt had a little sister, Penny, who was just over a year younger than him.
Our two families were quite different. Mine was a typical middle class 70s household – I was expected to do as I was told and woe betide me if I didn’t! In truth, though, the actual number of smacked bottoms which resulted from this upbringing were pretty few and far between.