"Toilets are important - not as much fun as bathtubs but very important." Gil smiles and looks at the tray of steaming meat pies, the sausage rolls, the sandwiches, the pasties and cheese straws.

"I want some of those colours in the rest of my room," he said. "It'll make us hungry. On the other hand it might be a good idea to have it me coloured in case I shed in the spring."