Many (many!) years ago, when I was a young newspaper journalist, I remember a colleague paying me a lovely compliment: ‘You’re like a swan, gliding along; nothing ever seems to ruffle you.’ While I was touched, even then I couldn’t help but think: a swan’s glide might look effortless, but under the surface, it’s kicking pretty hard.
I remembered the exchange recently, when I was in the park feeding the birds with my two-year-old daughter (trying to be a good mum!). I think that my friend’s assessment now would be far less
