I’ve been doing a massive clear out recently, in an effort to get the house neat and tidy (HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA) for Christmas. I am an extraordinary accumulator of THINGS. And I’m not sure how it happens… but charity shops with interesting pieces of old furniture have a lot to answer for. I blame them.

However, despite my adoration for all things old, I also have a whole lotta love for a beautifully designed, smart, straight (yes, I own a spirit level) unbroken, fully intact piece of inexpensive furniture, and it is for this reason that IKEA is literally one of my favourite places to be. I spend hours there, wandering the aisles, dreaming of having a bunkbed with a desk underneath it (childhood dream) a wall made entirely of their little wooden drawers (sigh) and a kitchen where herbs and plants could hang as stylishly as they do in their showroom… HOW DO THEY DO IT?! I should also mention that I could out-eat any of you when it comes to their meatballs. 20 meatballs? Sure. And some gravadlax to start, please.