I’ve always had what I affectionately call “butterfly brain”—these days I recognise plenty of ADHD tendencies in the way I think and work. My thoughts flit from one flower to another, making unexpected connections and occasionally disappearing altogether. Once upon a time when I saw something I used to have almost instant recall of names, faces, numbers etc. But now in my seventies, whilst the conscious mind is still somewhat of a butterfly, the archives are not as accessible as they once were.

So now I imagine my mind is run by two librarians…

Myrtle works at the front desk. She is cheerful, curious and convinced she knows exactly where everything is. She greets every new idea with delight, starts three conversations at once and regularly disappears in search of a book she was holding a moment ago.

Mildred lives in the archives beneath the library. She wears sensible shoes, keeps impeccable records and believes there is a proper place for everything. She is not quick, but she is thorough. If Myrtle sends down a request for information, Mildred will eventually emerge carrying precisely the information that was needed, usually with a faint expression that suggests this could all have been avoided with better indexing.

So if I pause before answering a question, or suddenly remember something from fifty years ago but can’t recall what I had for lunch yesterday, don’t worry.

Myrtle has simply sent a note downstairs.

Mildred is on her way.