Walking through Westfield this afternoon, I thought of someone I know who was there earlier this month shopping for a Wedding Ring.

Quite why this came into my mind, I don't know, just that it did, and it's been hovering in my mind ever since; I've finally picked up on the manifold symbolism of the ring, above and beyond signalling that a person is married and in a state of union. It's this: as women generally outlive their men, then for so many widows that ring finger will be a permanent reminder of their partner's touch.

Now I understand why so many elderly women stroke their ring fingers - they're bringing back a memory, almost Aladdin like, conjuring up the genie of times past.