Last week I managed to overturn a mug of freshly made tea - my fault for using a long 'sundae' spoon, but the new tall mugs are taller than the normal teaspoons. I snagged on the top of the spoon handle, the mug toppled and the tea spilt, but at least I caught the mug, right handed too despite being a natural southpaw - (It wasn't my cheer-leading skills that got me an invite to cricket practice) but most of the 'ten seconds from boiling water' tea hit my kilt.

For a split second I was really rather concerned for my skin, but it proved needless.

All I felt was a slight warmth and one hot drop hit my bare foot, but that was it, so off with the kilt and straight into the washing machine, on with another hung up to air and back to the kitchen for more tea.

If the coffee stain has dried it might prove to be permanent, and the only solution is to make a large - very large - pot of coffee and immerse the whole kilt in it.

I used to have a whole collection of coffee coloured clothing in my student days.

Anne the Pleater