Umbrellas: questions and Band 8 answers

Not always, to be honest, but I make sure to pop a compact one into my rucksack if the weather forecast looks a bit unpredictable. Living in a fairly drizzly city, it's definitely saved me from getting drenched on my morning walk to the train station more times than I can count.

I definitely lean towards small, foldable ones because they're so easy to slip into a bag. Full-length ones with curved wooden handles look quite stylish, I suppose, but they’re just too cumbersome to lug around all day, especially when hopping on and off crowded buses.

Oh, countless times! I'm terrible for leaving them behind in cafes or propped up against a seat on the tube. In fact, just last month, I left a brand-new navy one under a table at a local bakery and completely forgot about it until it started pouring again.

Not really, as far as I remember. My parents usually preferred dressing me in a brightly coloured waterproof mac with matching wellies because I was constantly dropping things. An umbrella was just one more item for me to break or leave behind in the school playground.

It’s not very common, actually. Most people here only ever reach for an umbrella when it's raining cats and dogs. During a heatwave, people are far more likely to wear a wide-brimmed sunhat or just slap on some sunscreen rather than carry a parasol around.