I remember when Beth started work in our department. I was smitten from the first, but I thought I had no chance. I confided in my grandparents; I’ve taken may problems to them since I was small.

Gran looked me up and down. She peered over her spectacles and told me I could smarten myself up a bit. She had thought my last girlfriend a bit of a scruff and I suppose my standards had slipped.

According to Gran, first impressions count.

But Gramps said, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”

’S funny he should mention books, ’cos Beth and I had been comparing books we read in the lunch break. I like sci-fi; Beth’s into detective novels. We have different tastes in music too.

Gran said that was fine, because opposites attract.

But Gramps reckoned it was birds of a feather that flocked together. “Just look at…