When I was little, there were always a few sewing kits about, but more exciting than any number of zips, needles and cotton reels, was a box of buttons.

I don’t think any of them was ever used. There were any number of them. All different kinds. Some were navy blue, shaped like seashells, others were gold with anchors on them. There were pink and white and black buttons. Presumably, a good number of them would have come in little plastic snappy bags, threaded through button holes or on the tags of blouses.

Naturally, they all had to be kept. In case they came in handy one day.

I still have the box of buttons. I have – absolutely – no use for them and yet, I quite like picking through them when there’s nothing on telly.