Regular readers of this column will know that I love our walk-in hot press. It’s warm and snug and cosy – and is a model of organisation and control. Towels are folded with round side out and in size order. Bed sheets are in one corner while pillow cases are neatly folded with the good ones forming one pile and the everyday another. There’s a cubby hole for face cloths and another for dish cloths. What’s more, each member of the family has their own shelf, even though two of them don’t live at home any more.

I was in there the other day sorting space for Richard, who has just finished college. His stuff was scattered across every room in the house. It needed organising and when I finished that job, I went on a satisfying tidy out of the rest of it as well.

As I was going through the shelves, I got to thinking about what are the essentials in a woman’s wardrobe and judging by what’s in mine, it has to be white T-shirts and opaque tights. There are so many things you can do with a white T. You can wear it under a jumper for sheer comfort or by itself with leggings or jeans. Wear it with a blazer, preferably navy with a nice chain, and it will take you anywhere.

You can wear a white T-shirt as a pyjamas top or over leggings when out for a walk or if you are into the gym. The list is endless and, what’s more, the white T-shirt never seems to wear out. I have about six round-neck Ts and there’s a couple of them in the wash every week. I can’t remember the last time I bought one but those that I have are still more than serviceable.

The same can be said for high-denier opaque tights, which, cents per wear, have to be the best value item in any woman’s wardrobe. They never die.

Talking about value for money, could you tell me why when you select a bottle of wine at a restaurant, you have to taste it before it’s served? I ask this because what I know about wine could be written on the back of a stamp.

When I buy a pot of tea or coffee, no one stands over me to check if I think it tastes off. Same goes for a glass of orange or bottled water. But when it comes to wine, there’s this elaborate dance with the waiter pouring a smidgen while everyone waits with bated breath for the designated taster to give it the thumbs-up. Has anyone ever spit it out and declared the wine to be corked? And if it is, surely we should be able to rely on the restaurant and the waiter to recognise that in the first place. Anyway, just asking.

Finally, you have until Monday to get your entry in for the FBD Insurance National Farmyard awards and have a chance to share in the super prize fund. Good luck. CL