The three-year-old “Planet International Hotel” in Mekelle looked spectacular. Ten modern storeys of luxurious rooms, restaurants, bars, a gym and a swimming pool. After a couple of dusty days driving (more correctly, being driven) around the rock-hewn churches of Tigray a night in such a plush establishment beckoned comfortably. And it was lovely. Except…

My life doesn’t have a great deal of quiet in it. There’s something about having three small children that seems to make quiet difficult to find.