You wouldn't believe the grief we get as "weather people" when it doesn't bake in summer and snow in winter. Forecasts these days are compiled by a variety of sources including satellites, weather ships, Met Office personnel and sometimes the bloke running the fish bar opposite the ITV studios (don't ask me how he does it but he's scarily accurate).

With such a wealth of information, we have confidence in delivering the forecast, although sometimes it goes a bit skew-whiff and that's when we can find ourselves in the firing line. I've been accused of ruining strangers' barbecues when I met them in the street!

At times like this I'm glad I work with such a close and loving team. There are four of us; Jo, Kerrie, Jon and little old me. The girls are the sweetest, most caring workmates you could wish for but I guess it's Jon for who I reserve the greatest affection for, mainly because I've worked side-by-side with him for 12 - at times very long - years.

Jon is my "MBF" (Male Best Friend). All girls should have one; when the world is rosy (like the day I got married) they are there to celebrate with you and when things aren't going your way (like the one and only time I missed the Next clothing sale) he's there to provide a sympathetic ear.

Of course he doesn't always get it right; like the time I split my trousers up the back in front of a school assembly of eight-year-olds and had to walk sideways, like a crab, towards the exit and he laughed like a drain.

When we first started working together we used to share a lovely dressing room with a sofa, table, mini-fridge and bathroom. Within a week he knew that I had an addiction to pickled onions and I knew that he liked to read the Innovations catalogue in the bathroom on a morning. You may argue that this is maybe too much information but my friendship extends to his wife Elaine and his two beautiful daughters.

Without Jon (and Jo and Kerrie) I'd be lost. As Jon always said, the four of us are a team and you have to look on the bright side of life.

I'll leave the last words to my MBF. When I asked him if it was okay to talk about our friendship in this column he replied "Yeah, just don't let people know that we have so much fun in the office - forecasting is a serious subject! Oh, and for God's sake don't mention the time we hosted an auction at Tong WMC and you auctioned off my tie AND a kiss. I don't want people to know I went for £2.75!" Wouldn't dream of it chuck.