My conversations with our window cleaner usually expose how little I know about the team I apparently support. But this time I’m prepped …

I am bad at Christmas shopping, but my wife is good at it, and so, as it happens, are all three of my sons. The presents they’ve ordered keep arriving at my door, because they know I am always home.

I shop so little that when I do finally get out there at Christmas time I’m inevitably drawn to things I might like or need: gadgets, toiletries, new shoes. If I’m not careful I can come home laden only with presents for myself. But even that can’t happen unless I get out there.