In the Department of History eight of us sit around an antique table under the gaze of Charles I.

The topic is ‘What is Culture’? Nothing like a Starter for 10 to break the ice.

The American student describes to us his bewilderment at a certain group of women he sees during his job as a waiter. They have blonde backcombed hair and tanned skin, and wear rollers and pyjamas to the cafe where he works.

Oh, you mean wannabewags, chirps the student from Speke.

Yeah, he says, WAGS.