Under the counter

Credit where it’s dueI’m sure we all know the feeling of crushing disappointment that comes when something one has eagerly anticipated for what seems like years turns out to be a bit of a damp squib. From one’s earliest memories of the phenomenon – when, for instance, the bike-shaped object under the Christmas tree turns out to be a cleverly folded ironing board – to more mature experiences (I won’t say anything about the first time I persuaded the second Mrs Clarke to visit my pied a terre but suffice to say it definitely fits the criteria under discussion) crushed hopes are a terrible thing. Which is...