This morning Caroline takes us to Costco, a large department stores with access for members only. We are delighted that our son Jack is also there. He is now almost 16 years old and has grown quite a bit since we last saw him. Jack takes after his father and talks passionately about computers and programming. We walk through the aisles together and are quite amazed: the Halloween offerings can easily keep up with America. Would you like a life-size mummy that is brought to life by a motion sensor and then moves in a creepy way? Or would you prefer a scarecrow with a pumpkin head? Or the tombstone with a funny skeleton that swings its hips to the music? Or would you prefer the giant skeleton hanging on the frame? Although… maybe it’s a bit big for the back seat and our balcony at home. Alas, we don’t ask the price, but leave it here.

So we continue to explore the racks. Each time we are amazed at the huge selection and, above all, the large packs. 24 Beignets with hazelnut cream? A kilo pack of biscuits? A five-litre barrel of olive oil? You can buy all that here. By the time we’ve paid for our lunch of hot dogs – particularly popular and also particularly cheap here, £1.50 including a drink – it’s really too late: a couple of soldiers have bought the giant skeleton and are taking it to their car. Well, at least we’re not tempted to go and get it after all.

In the afternoon, Gabi and I buy a few things at Sainsbury’s supermarket. Or rather: lots of things. Sweets, snacks, sauces – everything you need from England, a whole IKEA bag full. Three more donuts for a snack and a milkshake from Starbucks, then we make our way back to the hotel.

In the evening, we meet Caroline, Peter and Jack at Bella Capri, an Italian restaurant nearby. We have a lovely evening with a delicious meal. For starters, Gabi and I share meatballs with tomato sauce and parmesan. Gabi then has a plate of pasta and a side dish of garlic bread, which would easily be a pizza in itself. I order pork patties with Parma ham and sage with potatoes and vegetables. There’s just enough room for a slice of cheesecake for dessert – not quite Italian, but very tasty.