THE other day my wife went out on a shopping spree and left me to cook a vegetarian pie that she’d prepared. She left me with detailed instructions, although I thought this a little over the top.

How difficult could it be?

At the allocated time, I switched the oven on to warm up and, following the instructions carefully, I inserted the pie after 15 minutes, leaving 20 to 30 minutes cooking time.

I checked the pie at 20 minutes and again at 30 but there was little indication that the pie was ready, it had not even browned on the top.

It was then that I discovered that I had switched on the top oven/grill but inserted the pie into the main oven.

My, how we laughed when my wife returned. After all, the main harm was to my pride.

We do, however, need a new grill pan as it had melted with the grill door being shut. It’s either throw it away or enter it for the Turner art award, an unmade bed did it for Tracy Emin.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland.