Synesthesia. I was about 20 before I learned it has a name and not everyone has strong colour associations for numbers and letters, or sees a visible map of time in their head, or has music take shape. It never occurred to me to question it because it’s always been my norm.

I’m sorry you went through that. I hope things continue to get better and better.

I’m trying to think of something I can actually do, but all I can think about are weird coincidences beyond my control:

My parents and my husband’s parents were married on the same day in different parts of the country. His dad also shares my birthday.

My first child was born on the same day as a moderately famous comedian’s first child. Later, when I looked that comedian up, I realised my second child was born on his 50th birthday.

I have everything I need for a Nadja of Antipaxos costume, but I don’t think we’re going anywhere.

Three shares, folded in half, then in half again. Maybe two squares if it’s quilted.

Stop trying to make fetch happen

I’ve been using Daylio for years.

It’s designed to track moods and the activities associated with them, but it’s adaptable, so I use it to track my headaches. It’s very easy to use and it doesn’t feel onerous to record the information.

You’re Wrong About podcast has an episode about this with Blair Braverman guesting, that I think posits a decent theory. Blair also appears on episodes about the Andes plane crash and the diphtheria serum run, both of which are well worth a listen.

When I worked in retail, I had this wanker of a middle manager who would ask how I was getting on, and when I said fine, he’d always say “It’s not rocket science, is it?”

He was mid twenties and only a few years older than me. He used to call female employees “babe”.

One time I watched him get a withering telling off from a customer. The customer wasn’t in the right, but it felt like a little bit of retribution for all us “babes”.

Steven Pacey reading Joe Abercrombie’s First Law series is outstanding. The books themselves are among my favourites, but Steven makes them even more special. He has different voices (and accents) for the characters and manages to stay consistent with them. His pacing is also excellent.

I have something similar! Mine is a playwright, so not on most people’s radar, unless they Google my name. It’s great.