We are far more self-critical and adaptable than we are often given credit for

I fear it would be difficult to convince the most avid that we’ve not all tumbled down the mountainside of the people’s republic of Shangri-La since we embraced new technology, ministerial government and joined-up writing.

‘Remember the Potteries,’ I heard wafting across a St Brelade restaurant whose diners were tucking into their theoretical boxes of oysters. I assumed the speaker was unaware of his host’s background; if not, what followed was certainly in poor taste.

‘Now what have you got? The Pottery is just like a shop in town, with lots of expensive bought-in trinkets and stuff. They get huffy if you mention the word zoo now the place is called Durrell, and you can’t find animals wandering around, while the castle’s got nothing interesting in it and those boat things keep breaking down. More than that, everything here is now just as expensive as the UK!’

I braced myself for the inevitable: ‘I don’t know why we still come over here!’

But mercifully, it never came.

The enthusiasm with which the party were stuffing themselves with good local food swallowed the final insult, while diplomatic cowardice prevented any embarrassing intervention on my part.

• Read the full column in Wednesday’s Jersey Evening Post