“I need a washing machine dye” I said. We went to Woollies and bought one in a gorgeous bright orange so I could dye two jumpers that I’ve had hanging around for ages but never wear because I hate their colours – one is pale blue and the other is oatmeal – why I bought them I can’t fathom because I wouldn’t be seen dead in either colour as a rule. I think I’ve worn them twice each and felt thoroughly ‘beige’ in them on both occasions.

So, they’ve migrated to the back of the wardrobe, where they’ve languished for about four or five years.

I’m hoping that by dying them the colour of my hair I might feel more inclined to put them on – and let’s face it, I can’t feel less inclined to put them on so whatever happens I’ll be no worse off…..well unless you consider the £4.99 I paid for the dye. But then again - £4.99 will be a small price to pay for a fabulous new jumper that I like!!!!

I brought home the dye thinking I’d do it after doing the week’s washing, did the normal washing and on the last load I went to pull out the washing, which was sodden and still covered in soap. My machine has been slowly dying for years now and this was its final death throe – it’s gradually been losing its functionality and I’ve just been working around whatever bit has failed so I could get stuff clean. Today I have given up and decided to buy a new one. Here it is (the old one that is), still half-full of gunky stuff. We have to find a way to get rid of that because it's being taken away when the new one is delivered and they won't take it with water in!

I have bought a Bosch because of DMs obsession with German engineering, though to be frank, I’m not entirely delighted with the last Bosch item I bought – a lawnmower that’s basically crap – it sounds like it’s about to explode and keeps digging itself into the lawn. It’s only a few months old but has basically never worked properly since the second time I used it. OK OK I did run over a big stone, but I got the sledgehammer and wellied the blade back flat but it’s never worked right since.

So, this is Bosch’s last chance – if this one’s a dud then I’m going to choose on the basis of Linda’s law – don’t buy things that are full of gizmos and gadgets, you KNOW you’ll never use more than one programme on the washer (one temperature on the oven etc etc), just buy something that has a low energy rating and works at the touch of a button. That’s good enough for me – it doesn’t have to be German to be good in my world…..mind you, that’s not to say I’d buy a washing machine from just anywhere (I could name names but I don’t want to blot my copybook with anyone else).

I wonder how long it’ll be before I’m brave enough to use the washing machine dye in a new machine – better pluck up courage before winter arrives.

Ooohhh - last year's pic was GOOD!