Delicious crumpets and maple butter we’re not the only offerings from Joan, they were accompanied by a bunch of large chrysanthemums from mr cook.

I’d never really understood the appeal of chrysanthemums. I now realise that this was likely because I’d never seen any other than straggly insipid supermarket versions.

These giant ones are so elegant and perfect. I now get the preponderance of chrysanthemums in Asian art over the centuries.

And I’m all turned around on the chrysanthemum subject – well, the giant, perfect, puffy ones only.