for real

IKEA is an ordeal, but one that is worth it when you want cheap bedding, glasses, cups and bowls for students, with a 9-piece breakfast for £2.75 thrown in for sustenance. I always wonder how people would cope in there if, as happened in the Second World War, all the signposts were taken down. No doubt it would qualify as one of the circles of hell.

Our visit this week was made more bearable by the sight of a brilliant mass of artificial flowers on sale. AlthoughI can't say I'd ever buy fake flowers (I see them as dust-catchers), if I had an old VW Beetle I'd fill the little vase with lots of them so I wouldn't sneeze as I drive. I did buy a set of vases (good value, plain glass, simple shapes) for some real flowers, though.