While I don’t necessarily consider myself an absolute expert, I do feel that I know quite a bit about love. I know that I love MyJohn so much that sometimes it feels as though my heart might break with the intensity of it. I know what it feels like to be truly loved as well – and there is nothing in the world quite like it. I know what it feels like when love disappoints you and I know what it feels like to fall in love for the first time, or all over again. I know love when it is platonic and I know love for generic ‘things’ (like that new pair of 4″ heels I bought the other day…it’s pure love that!). I have experienced love in most ways and am truly a richer person for it.

There is a new kind of love, however, that I’m being exposed to here on the soggy island (which is rather sunny today, I’ll have you know). And that’s the love you get from strangers. It’s the love used by the homeless guy sitting on the way to the tube entrance when he says ‘Can you spare the homeless some change, Love?’. It’s the love used by the guy who fixed my bicycle wheel and said ‘That’ll be a tenner, Love’ and it’s the same type that the policeman used after I asked him for directions and he said, ‘Just straight down the path, Love’ and it seems that this kind of love, too, is universal, or at least very British.

So call me naive or even a little silly, after all, I know they say that to all the girls, but when someone calls me ‘Love’ I do feel special and yes, a little loved…