Looking for press studs for a cushion cover, I was stunned to discover this in my sewing kit – in Malaysia. The ‘Made in West Germany’ declaration meant they were at least 24 years old. This confirmed that (1) I hadn’t sewn press studs in a very long time and (2) I was as big a hoarder as my father. I felt disproportionate joy at the discovery. Our Berlin stint had ended a mere two months before. We were missing the capital terribly. Still, years later, I continue to treasure the press studs – probably disproportionately so.

‘Wessis’ is the term for West Germans, the East German equivalent being ‘Ossis’.