Every one of us, I’m sure, experiences the odd day here and there when they seriously question why they show such commitment to their business.

I have to admit that walking around AGF Totaal, in Rotterdam on Monday, having been obliged to give up a ticket to the final day of the most momentous sporting occasion in England for nigh on 40 years, was one of mine.

No disrespect to the organisers, exhibitors and visitors I chatted with, but I’m hardly going to tell my grandchildren about my unforgettable day at AGF Totaal 2005. And apologies to the largely non-cricketing fraternity at Ahoy, who would have been wondering at the peculiarly stressed expression on my face and the constant stream of text messages belting out of my mobile phone.

Perhaps the fact that there were virtually no British visitors in town can be put down to the Ashes showdown. More likely of course that the merits of Fruit Logistica as a truly global event have taken some of the gloss off the Dutch alternative.

It didn’t make me feel much better when one well-known wholesaler, who will remain anonymous, rang me during the presentation ceremony at the Oval to inform me he’d had a great day, was heavily inebriated and two yards from Michael Vaughan.

But we won, so I’ll get over it. Eventually.