Hands up if you had a clear-out during lockdown? It was the kitchen that stumped me. When I challenged myself to Marie Kondo’s how much of this sparks joy, so much of it did. A set of ramekins from a job I loved, granny’s butter dish, my favourite wooden spoon.

There wasn’t much cleared out but it did get me thinking about how kitchen paraphernalia seems to make us more nostalgic and possessive than any other inanimate home objects. Even people I know who are minimalist to the core or don’t cook much can have kitchen items they wouldn’t dare part with.

Whether it’s deep nostalgia or simply a fond association, the smallest thing can change something – from throwaway to treasured, as these cooking curio fans confirmed for me.

When you picture a chef’s chopping board, something rustic and handcrafted might come to mind. My chopping board is definitely not that. It’s a multicoloured, flimsy plastic board that is literally falling apart. My fiance, Seb, brought it into our lives when we first moved in together and it had already seen a lot of use then. The beauty of it is not in its appearance but in its non-slip rubber bottom that I’ve never seen another chopping board have. It might not look great on anyone’s Instagram feed but it’s the first thing I reach for when I start to cook any meal.