It’s official. My eldest daughter looked longingly at the moon on her way back from the hairdresser’s this evening, and expressed her desire to ‘give it a cuddle’.

Which leaves me just over two weeks to find some plausible lunar-alternative, or we’re going to have a very disgruntled five-year-old on our hands this Christmas.

Meanwhile, her sister has comparatively parochial designs on a road-sweeping vehicle (the giant vacuum hose attachment receiving particular acclaim).

Whilst it seems unlikely that either of the younger Gileses will be receiving their present of first choice, we have been keen to encourage the current fascination for hoovering. We have offered many, many opportunities to ensure vacuuming fulfillment.

We are hoping the domestic prowess may, in time, spread to washing, ironing, light garden maintenance and the like. That would make a wonderful Christmas present.