I did the pools from the week I was twenty-one. Every week I did the same five-bob perm. Old Tom and Crutchley, who were in Rates with me, and some of the girls clubbed together and did a big one and they were always going at me to join in, but I stayed the lone wolf. I never liked old Tom or Crutchley. Old Tom is slimy, always going on about local government and buttering up to Mr Williams, the Borough Treasurer. Crutchley’s got a dirty mind and he is a sadist, he never lets an opportunity go of making fun of my interest, especially if there were girls around. ‘Fred’s looking tired – he’s been having a dirty week-end with Cabbage White,’ he used to say, and ‘Who was that Painted Lady I saw you with last night?’ Old Tom would snigger, and Jane, Crutchley’s girl from Sanitation, she was always in our office, would giggle. She was all Miranda wasn’t. I always hated vulgar women, especially girls. So I did my own entry, like I said.