I regularly say things about my kitchen that are less than kind, but let’s look at the bare facts: it has only one power point – helpfully positioned just above the gas hob – it was installed sometime in the 1960s, it’s hot and it’s pretty small.

What it does have going for it though are large, shiny floor-to-ceiling wall tiles.  In white thank goodness.

And these tiles in my un-chic and cluttered kitchen have become something that I love: they are hands down the best place for lists, messages and reminders.

All you need is a pot of whiteboard markers and you can scribble away to your hearts content; we have recipes, godchildren’s birthdays, doctor’s phone numbers, the week’s playdates and menus all over one wall, with shopping lists on the other.

If I had a smarter kitchen, I would never think to do this, but thankfully (certainly one way of looking at it) I don’t!

‘What is it good for?’ image via Abbashalai