Many, many years ago, when Gill was young and in love, but nobody's fool, and I was just a wide-eyed inncocent little girl, I had been taken to Marsie's, where Pat and Gill had been living for a very short while.

On this hot summer's day, Pat had been tasked with burning some garden rubbish in the back garden. Gill remained resolutely upstairs, with me, watching the inevitable chaos unfold. The fire soon got out of hand, and spread quickly towards the fence. All hands were called to assist in the fire dousing. I looked at Gill, expectantly. She looked backed, laughed and said,

'Not bloddy likely. If I go down there, I know I will end up with the blame, and so will you!'

This logic, which was fairly well evidence based, had never been made so clear to me before. I joined in the laughter, and the pair of us had a right good giggle watching everyone else running round like headless chickens.

That day Gill taught me a simple, and yet very successful, solution to many of life's dilemmas - when the dirt is hitting the fan- duck and keep out of the way.