Beyond the borders of the known world. But not, as it might be, the Shetland Islands. I stand now outside the known world, as old age and sickness – worse than sickness – take their toll of my friends to the nth degree. If you think that’s an exaggeration, think of it this way. You turn a corner – have a child, for example – and your life has changed forever but you did not know it would be like this.