About four years ago, my wife and I spent the New Year at a very nice country house hotel, Fairy Hill, in South Wales.

We had enjoyed two nights and were anticipating New Year's Eve. In the event, the day was very stormy and, at one point, the hotel lost power for several hours.

This was restored in time for dinner. There were only two other couples dining.

One spent every New Year out, although they were from some way away and were not going to let a few fallen trees and floods spoil their anniversary dinner.

The other consisted of a professorial looking man with a large pot belly and a beard accompanied by a small woman in a crpe de chine dress.

They did not hang about. On the table before they started their meal was a bottle of Champagne and another of Burgundy.

They despatched both and a large four-course meal in next to no time.

Afterwards, the waiter came round and inquired if they would like tea or coffee.

The "professor" boomed at him: "Good God, no - we're driving home." My wife let out a guffaw and had to pretend I had just told her a joke.

-Bruce Jamieson, Sudley Road, Bognor Regis