Looking back at when I first arrived on British shores in September 1974, I struggle to believe just how ill-equipped I was for the baptism of fire that London and the AA turned out to be for me, the young and naïve Milanese accustomed to sunshine, good food and the easy life.

Not surprising therefore that it was not love at first sight, nor that the second I graduated from the AA I packed my bags and moved to New York. I had more than survived the weather and my time in Bedford Square, and made many friends – but the early Thatcher years were yet another good reason for wanting to try my luck elsewhere; and being very conveniently the beneficiary of dual Italian/US nationalities, the world at that point felt very much my oyster.