Can the heating be turned off yet? Might it get nippy in the evening? Couldn’t you wear a jumper? These are just some of the questions that abound at this time of year, often causing strife between otherwise contented couples.
In a study sponsored by the Thermal Underwear Manufacturers Society, boffins have identified significant differences in the views held by each sex.
In general, at his peril but with one eye on escalating fuel bills, it is the male who initiates the discussion, often supporting his argument by pointedly closing windows muttering something about “heating the whole street”.
Such irony is apparently wasted on the female, for whom a half degree temperature variance can mean a complete change of outfit. She prefers the “Sahara at noon” thermostat setting but still feels the need to let in some fresh air.
In a relatively recent innovation, some men have taken to playing the green card, claiming only to be saving the planet.
For one group however, menopausal women, opinions can change by the minute.