I took a three-hour train ride from Essen to Hamburg this morning. A beautiful city, and everyone sells hamburgers it seems. All the signs say Hamburger Bank, Hamburger Chemist, Hamburger toys.

It was divine design - pure serendipity! I got lost and ended up at a place called the Rathaus Markt (town hall marketplace). There at the art gallery was a showing of my favourite artist, Frida Kahlo. I saw the original Self portrait with monkey and the less known but equally strange and painful Heart, cactus and foetus.

I grabbed lunch at Hamburg’s version of Hudson’s, called Balzac Coffee (such an unfortunate choice of trademark) and sat on a bridge over the main canal (canals everywhere, please, no more canals).

There I got a pain in my stomach as I watch a couple of small children play with their dad while mum looked on, protectively amused.

It is really time for me to come home.

Though I will miss Uncle Jochin and Aunt Angela. They have been brilliant hosts and have made a complete stranger feel at home, with family. Thank you.