Some e-mails should never be opened. Often an innocent looking title can hide a powerful depth charge lurking within.

There I was, easing my way back into work after a convivial lunch, picking out the low hanging e-mail fruit when I clicked on a note titled Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Normally this would have been a simple case of following the link and donating. Not this time.

‘Hi, there! We were looking for people in the office with a good sense of humour to take part in the Pink Wig vote! We will be having a vote and the person with the most donations will wear a pink wig for the day!’

In addition to the overuse of exclamation marks, there was nothing about wearing a pink wig that I thought was a good idea or that I wanted to be part of. I’m all in favour of charity but I’m also of the firm belief that wackiness in any form, but particularly fancy dress, does not mix with work. I’m an accountant, not much I do is enhanced by comedy, especially not the form of comedy represented by a pink wig.

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