Museums do not usually show stuffed lapdogs, but the curator was an Englishman with a kind heart and Mrs Winterbotham, who had raised a lot of money for the museum, had really loved her dog.

'I was afraid, though, the blame would find a way to stick to them. That's how blame was.'

'Why did I ever start? Do I regret it? Never, never, never. I wouldn't swap my job for anything on earth'

Better still, let them know you're grateful. It's easier than you'd think to make an NHS employee's day, especially at Christmas.