I’m not fond of trying to do business by telephone. I hate talking on the damn things – I’m keenly aware that 80% of communication is non-verbal, and at least with the written word, I’ve got the time to really get the verbal part right, in a way you don’t on the phone. But still, I have spent a good chunk of my morning on the phone. Net gains – 800 quid and change. OK, it’s money that I was owed, but I feel good about having got it back by telephone.

Sometimes it really is the stupidest things that make us pleased, isn’t it?