I have just tidied all the old papers off my desk. I’m an editor, and I end up printing off great reams of stuff, marking them up on paper, doing dull stuff with some typesetting software, and then leaving them on the desk.

It was like geological strata down there, all in descending date order. I recycled the lot (and archived a few bits), and found:

• Three CDs
• A hairband
• £3.45
• A teaspoon
• A lipsalve
• A birthday card I received four months ago with an amusing kitten on it
• Vitamin pills

I am now wondering whether to keep on top of it or whether to let it build up again and enjoy the surprises I find when I next excavate it.