The toasts grew progressively sillier and stranger as the evening went on, and before long they had toasted the Gulf Stream and its contribution to the climate of northern Europe, maple syrup, Dumbledore’s glorious beard (Maggie insisted that Richard Harris’ Dumbledore was far superior to Michael Gambon’s), the fall of the Roman empire and last, but according to Christopher not least, the butt of the new psychology professor.

The boys’ competetive instincts quickly led them to trying to drink each other under the table and eventually they both lost. Anita and Maggie didn’t waste any time posing the two boys in what looked like a passionate embrace on the sofa and then taking several pictures.