It was so thoughtful of my colleague EH – mother of Christmas twins and a waitress like me – to think of giving me a fabric shop gift voucher as a house-warming present so soon after we moved into our new-build. It cheered me up no end after the burglary (when much was taken, though thankfully not my Mac). I turned the two metres of sky-blue velvet shot with navy flashes into a pretty dress suitable for both day-wear and parties.

One day at work in the café EH and I asked our boss if we could put up a sign to ask the customers to clear their own tables. “Only for soup and jacket potatoes” came the response.