One of the dismal tasks I undertook this morning was trying to sort out my State Pension.

Apparently my pension will be reduced to take account of the fact that I was married for six years, ending in 1970. My wife didn't pay stamps and I did all the money earning. A judge later gave her a very generous capital sum on my behalf.

Mind you, I should have known it would go wrong from the start. It was a long, long morning and we were starving hungry. When we arrived at the hotel reception, the two of us were taken outside for wedding photographs. By the time the guy had finished, all the food from the 'wedding feast' had been consumed by the guests. Oh, there must have been a cake, but I have forgotten.

In fact, I have forgotten most things about the next six and a half years.