I’m writing my blog and suddenly a cup of coffee turns up on my desk but I’m so engrossed trying to download photographs (of about 20 pixels) which will not appear that I haven’t said a thank you to the coffee-maker and bringer.

“Thank you for the coffee,” I call out from my office at the rear of the house.

“Eh?” comes a voice from somewhere.

“Thank you for the coffee, Roland!” I say very distinctly and a much louder.

“Eh?” comes the voice again (through several walls).

“Crikey, he’s a bit deaf (like Chris),” I think to myself but I don’t say it out loud for fear of offending him (I don’t mind telling Chris but he’s my husband!). Instead, I try again, even louder and with perfect enunciation:

“Thanks a lot Roland!”

“That’s OKAY!” Roland calls out very clearly and he pops his smiling face around the door.

“Is that what you said on each of the previous occasions?” I ask laughing.

He just grins. He’s too polite to call me a deaf bat.