1. Sleep – I can’t be tired

2. Clean teeth – furry teeth = furry thoughts

3. Big knickers - no distracting elastic bites

4. A tidy house - makes me feel like I’m in control

5. Bananas, milk and bread - so I have no popping out urges

6. Gold FM or Spotify for a bit of mood music

7. Constant Internet Access – so I can still be a citizen of the cyber world as I write

8.  A Deadline

9. Pink Grapefruit Squash - one pint

10. The dog to rest my feet on

I realised just how very lowbrow I am - call me Philistina -  when my neighbour started to read his list. It began with ‘Thoughts about Cubism’ (to examine character from every angle and as a route into complexity) and ‘Meditation’ , and became even more thoughtful and metaphysical as he developed and articulated his ideas.

And what did I learn tonight? Imperfect isn’t just a tense.