Life is good at the moment. After the disaster of the fire, and the absence of Mick, I believe I’ve come out the other side. A combination of the sunny weather, the bespoke alterations and Dinah’s chutzpah means that sales are going well. And it’s time to restock again.

The Tallulah Young Vintage Auction is coming up in Clerkenwell and I’ve gone through the auction catalogue online, looking for retro pieces, searching for a particular look; simple lines, Peter Pan collars, primary colours.

The sale’s on a Monday and because Dinah’s getting to know my stock as well as I do, I’ve asked her if she wants to come with me. She’s very enthusiastic, so we make our arrangements and I wait for her at Camden Town Tube. It’s really busy and I’m looking round for her when I hear her call me.

‘Dahleenk! Hey! You there! Audrey!’

I’m embracing the Hepburn look in black Capri pants, a knotted white shirt and a red Hermès neckerchief.

Dinah has dressed up for the auction too, in heels and a little suit. She frowns at my flats. ‘What are those things on your feet?’

‘It’s what Audrey would have worn,’ I tell her. I’m not that impressed with her heels, either. ‘Can you walk in those? You do realise it’s fifteen minutes from the Tube, don’t you?’

‘Pah!’ she says dismissively. ‘Up a mountain?’

On the journey there she asks me plenty of questions about the auction, mostly about how it works financially. She’s indignant that both buyers and sellers pay commission, and by the time we get to the auction house, she has all the attitude of a seasoned auction-goer.

She fits in here perfectly, with her polished style and her haughty chin. I look through the racks at the lots I’m interested in, beguiled by the richness of beauty and design. I love the Sixties psychedelic tunics, synthetic black-and-white mod-look trouser suits, pop art shirts with blocks of colour, geometric patterns. I also have my eye on a group of Forties day dresses, easy to wear and sexy, and they suit all ages.

These delight Dinah too and she gleefully tucks her arm in mine. ‘They take me back,’ she says breathlessly.

I register for a paddle number with which to bid. At Dinah’s insistence, we sit in the front row.

Tallulah Young, the auctioneer, comes over to say hello and I introduce her to Dinah. Tallulah’s truly passionate about clothes and since I’ve become a regular at the viewings, she’ll often point out things that she thinks I might be interested in.