FAMILY TIES HAVE THE X FACTOR WE ALL NEED

I SPENT Saturday night in Reading at my sister Julie’s place. We’d just sacrificed a 1-0 lead with 10 minutes left, but when I stepped into Julie’s house, there were my four nephews, Harry, Alfie, Freddie and Joe, who I’d not seen for four months. An Indian takeaway, X-Factor on TV and a catch-up with them all. A brief but incredible release from the mad, mad world outside the front door.