I was able to afford a new pair of specs this week. These are they. I’m sick to the back teeth of never having my reading glasses when I need them, no matter how many pairs of poundland specs I’ve got. My solution was to buy some varifocals with clear glass at the top and my reading specs at the bottom that I can wear all of the time and not need to take them off to drive or walk about. I was told by the optician that I was the right sort of person to get varifocals (not everyone gets on with them) because my attitude to them was so positive.

Since I got them, I’ve been a bit down because to be honest I’ve struggled with them. There is a weird effect when you shake your head as though the table is moving up and down. I can never find the right spot to read and I’ve spent most of the week feeling queasy as though I’m travel sick.

Now I’m getting used to them in more ways than one. I’m still not there in terms of finding the focal sweet spot but I’m less far adrift than I was and I’m also getting used to looking in the mirror and seeing crazy Maisie staring back at me. My eyes always surprise me at how green and cat-like they are when I see a photo. I was hoping for the “a bit kooky but not quite Dame Edna” look – do you think I’ve found it?