Memory lane is so much easier to access now we have things like google streetview. After I’d worked myself up by writing about the Deane last night, I streetviewed my walk home to my Mum and Dad’s old house in Bideford Road. I now know that the building that used to be Express Dairy headquarters is now a DIY shed, the chippy is still there and even that there is a Bruno’s right where the old one was but it was definitely not there last time I was there in person (pre-streetview) so unless they reopened or unless someone else is trading under the name, I’m not sure what’s going on.

Then this morning I heard an interview on Radio 4’s Today programme with Wilko Johnson who was recently diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer talking with such dignity and eloquence about his prognosis and his life. He’s one of my heroes and he’s going to be leaving us in a very short while. DM also heard it on his way to work and we both ‘fessed up to shedding a tear when he spoke of the love for his wife who also died of cancer eight years ago.

Because I know that my two Dr Feelgood loving buddies, Colin and Paul wouldn’t have heard the interview, I emailed them both a link to the iplayer version www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21187740 and have spent the day chatting to them both via email. I can honestly say I’ve not had such a good day in ages and that was even with spending it writing an essay and reading deadly dull scientific papers all day. I LONG for the day when I can read a trashy novel again without feeling guilty.

This pic is of an old butter dish – note the crazed glaze – it’s a relic of a bygone age, a time of memories. It’s made by a company called SylvaC and they shut up shop in 1982 so this is at least thirty years old. You’ve no idea how much trouble I went to to get it, even though I didn’t know it was what I wanted until I saw it.

You see I’m a butter snob. To me it’s a “no brainer” – a spread for bread that’s only ingredients are cream and salt or something that’s made from 30-40 chemicals. Interestingly I tried to get a list of Flora’s ingredients from their website but they don’t publish them there, only on the packaging, which I suppose is no surprise when you see what the ingredients are. We’re a butter only household.

So, a butter dish is an essential item. They tend to be “wrong” though. The last one I had was effectively bowl shaped with a flat lid. It meant that when the butter was cold (as it invariably is in our home), it was impossible to get out of the dish. The new one had to have a flat base with a domed top and be old – in other words second hand. I looked for something suitable. Most are horrid novelty things. Some are depressingly twee (flowery). After months of looking, I found this on the (now) dreaded ebay. It cost me peanuts, the postage was more than the dish. I have a really lovely thing with its cracked glaze and glorious wave design. It’s from a bygone era and a company that clearly made things they cared about. I wonder if anyone who worked there will see my picture and find their own memory lane.