My sister J, brother-in-law M, TPR and I stepped into the lift to reach the exhibition on a high floor of the tower block.  Our plan was to scour the trade stands to snaffle as many free trinkets as possible. Our dress and demeanour would give the impression that we were serious punters – even TPR looked the part in a smart suit – but spending money on hi tech systems was the last thing on our minds.

I was rather uncomfortable in the lift, worrying about any outcomes of break-down. My overactive brain raced through failed rescue attempts, lack of access to food, and the temptations of cannibalism. Happily my fears were unfounded and we were soon freed to make our assault on the trade stands.

I had just started to build a fine collection of company-branded keyrings, notebooks, 2026 diaries, and miniature bottles of gin when two very tall men approached me. How wonderful to find DC and AC still on the trade exhibition circuit!

Then I recognised a small, handsome Indian in his early thirties. I hugged him warmly, hoping to encourage him to reveal his identity to me. As I did so, another visitor to the exhibition whispered in my ear that this man was a television star. When she named his show, this was no help to me at all: I had never seen that BBC drama. In any case, I believed that this man was famous for his brains rather than his acting skills. Hadn’t he once been a contestant on University Challenge?