I have been going through the cupboard this evening to see if I can free up some badly needed hanger space. Outfits that have long since passed the "have I worn it in the last 2 years and if not chuck it out" rule are staring me in the face but, for many, I can't think of parting with them.

One example is a rather trendy check suit in the Burberry mode inherited from my sister who, in turn, rescued it from a sale of unclaimed items in a dry-cleaners in London. I had a rather surreal experience wearing it a couple of Summers ago. I was sitting on a bench outside my previous place of work at lunch time when an old lady sat down beside me. It was coming up to 2 pm and after a few pleasantries she said "Is it not time you went back in love?". "No", I said. "They are pretty flexible in there. You can take lunch whenever you like". "That's great for you" she said rather incredulously. Shortly afterwards I hoisted myself up to re-enter the building and said goodbye to her. "Goodbye love. Good luck in the exams!". Since being mistaken for a lying, school-going teenager at aged 30, I have not been able to wear the suit in public. Yet!