With my son and family flying to the United States, one is aware of just how many people are in the air at any time. My late father would have been impressed two of his grandchildren with their spouses and four of his great-grandchildren were in the skies over the Atlantic yesterday, two families one eastbound and one westbound.

Even ten years ago, one would have been content to know which day one’s relatives were travelling. But in this ‘App’ age one has to know more. With internet access to airport arrival and departure boards you track further, then on flight intelligence apps you have the access to the whole flight whereabouts – timing, track and details of their speed and height.

In truth I don’t need any of that – a postcard ‘arrived safely’, always used to suffice, but the availability of information is compulsive.