New York has been good: My neighbor down the hall on 56th street was a great psychic called Lloraine Neidhardt who not only shared milk and coffee, but gave me some good advice, and remains a friend.

The woman in the loft next door allowed me to leave my best furniture in there while my floor was being remade. After I took the furniture back I started keeping my suitcases in her dressing room … she was very kind about it.