I used to know which machine was the best (and more importantly which were the dodgy ones), which tumble dryer was the most effective and how to load the spinner to remove the creases from your clothes pre-drying. I moved around the launderette with a confident ease.

Today I was flumoxed. Couldn't get the door shut on the machine, spent ages staring at new instructions on the wall (you pay centrally these days) and generally looked like the woman whose washing machine has broken and is negotiating a forgotten world.

I use to love this launderette. I loved the professionally hand written funny signs and classic styling. Nearly all that has gone now - the technology may have been updated, but the new signs are mass produced or badly hand written, the classic prints of rural scenes faded to blue and the furniture in dire need of updating.

It looks like this place could be our friend for a while though - it's the tax bill or a new washing machine for now and whilst I understand neither particularly well, I am less afraid of the launderette.