Absence makes the heart grow fonder

I'm going on holiday. I'm not heading for a "fly-and-flop" destination, nor am I making the most of my current base to explore the diversities of East Asia.

I am going to Southampton. A tiny place - compared with Beijing - on the south coast of England, and with a population of about 250,000 and the UK's biggest Ikea.

It is famous for being the starting point of the Titanic's maiden voyage and for having a football team that is really very good when it wants to be.