On Monday I remade my bed for summer: that is, I turned the mattress (as I do at the beginning of each season), washed the under-blanket, washed and put away the various extra layers which have been lying folded on the ottoman since the weather turned warm, and went to look for my summer-weight duvet rather than put the clean cover back on the regular one.

It was nowhere to be found.

Not hiding in the ottoman. Not in the airing cupboard. Not in the drawers under either the spare bed or my father's bed. Not in the sewing room with the spare linen, nor in the ironing basket (I was getting desperate by the time I looked there). It had completely vanished!

So I put the clean duvet cover on the regular duvet.

I got home from work today. "Have you seen my summer duvet?" asked Papa.

Well I could have told him it was missing because I would have seen it in one of the places I looked for mine if it had been there.

So where are they?

Has one of us had a mad tidy fit and put them in some place so tidy that neither of us can now think of it? Have they run off of their own volition. Has somebody appropriated them for his nice new house (Joe) or his caravan (Jacob) or even for his/her dog or horse (everyone, but Joe)? Whatever the truth, they are lost, stolen or strayed, and if the warm weather continues I shall be scanning the shelves of Matalan or the Original Factory Shop for a couple of low tog duvets pretty soon.