Edel Coffey: A recent email from an old landlord struck fear into my heart

Diaries like these, however cringe-making, are artefacts of our own histories, pathways back to parts of ourselves that would otherwise remain inaccessible, a map to see how we have changed over time.

I could imagine with great vividness the faux-literary bedroom ramblings of 15-year-old me.

I recently received an email, forwarded on from my agent, with the subject heading: ‘Edel Coffey personal materials found in my attic.’ Now there’s a line to strike fear into your heart if ever there was one!

I carefully opened the email as if it might explode and read the note through my fingers. It was from a former landlady who, upon clearing out her house, had discovered said personal items and very kindly tried to track me down to return them. I had bought a self-addressed postage label and sent it to her faster than you can say ‘Dear God no!’.