My husband is out of sorts. At most times of the year he is a person with a fairly pleasant temperament, given even to spurts of amiability. But at this time of the year, in the mornings especially, he is almost always out of sorts. His mood is largely attributable to his being so tired. He is tired because, this year, he is watching the cricket on television and England shares a huge time variance with Australia.

I am out of sorts. I am out of sorts because I,to, am tired, having been jolted from sleep, seemingly every night for days by my husband's exortations, shouts of encouragement and groans of deep disappointment - not from the marital couch, mind, but from the television room and with three matches still to be played I wonder how I will survive!