I had a real London moment last Friday. It was 10am, I still had three meetings, a lunch, and an event to host, and the zipper on my trousers split.

I tried to self-medicate - staple, paperclip, tape - but nothing was doing the trick.

Rather than do the usual, and run to the nearest high street haunt to purchase a quick fix, I held my trousers together and legged it to Oxford Circus, where I remember seeing the sign 'same day alterations' at the dry-cleaner/cobbler at the tube.

Upon enquiry, however, this service was no longer available; in fact, no one could remember a time when it was. Funny that. After two more unfruitful stops, I almost admitted defeat until a colleague told me to try Twins. Tucked behind Liberty, this pint size shop was bustling with efficency.

In just two hours, on a Friday afternoon, they fixed my zip, charged me under a tenner and asked me if there was anything else they could do - and they were being sincere!?

So next coffee down shirt, stain on white trousers, zip split day, I know exactly where I'm headed.