Travel takes you places. I had it in my mind a few years ago to visit all of the micro states in Europe; those flakes of geopolitical real estate that have always been overlooked by their more acquisitive, grabbing neighbours. So it was up hill and down dale through Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and finally that alpine bolthole, Liechtenstein.

Singlehandedly I probably kept their economies afloat for at least another week or more; I went home laden with all types of kitsch: plates, mugs, chocolate figurines, shoulders bowing with gewgaws and fluff. Surely one of these states should at least give me honorary citizenship or a medal. Or how about they have a national day named after me.