1. I didn’t intend to shop, just go to order some new (sun)glasses, but the end of the Christmas sales – 70% discounts in some places, 50% in others that weren’t as expensive to start with – is too much to resist. The glasses are a bargain too – with my voucher and the sale price, I get them for a quarter of the ticket price.

2. I act out of character and ask for something a little unexpected – I ask the staff at the marvellous Pizza Pieces if I could buy one of their prototype-for-staff t-shirts for John. They seem a little confused but sell me one at cost – I try to offer more “for their trouble” but they won’t hear of it. John is delighted with his exclusive fashion item.

3. Two of my joints click in unison, a dull stereo sound.