‘To keep balance, you must keep moving’. It’s Einstein’s words that Maria McErlane quotes in her recent memoir Bumps in the Road, and which are particularly apt for this woman whizzing about our town. 

It’s the motto imprinted on badges, flags and the forearms (I like to imagine) of soggy folk across the land. Emma proudly declared it as I joined her for coffee, along with the rest of the St Leonards Blue Tits… Blue Bells or Mermaids.

When you think of the word ‘muse’, several people come to mind: a mid-nineties rock band, obviously Kate Moss in all her forms, the Pre Raphaelite poser, Elizabeth Sidall and last but not least, St Leonard’s based Freudian nudie, Sue Tilley.