Definition: The first person you see after leaving your house on a special occasion (especially New Year)

Herbert was superstitious.

He averted his eye at black cats. Was too tall for ladders. Wouldn’t let umbrellas in the house—his sniffer frogs saw to that.

On Friday 13 December, his homeopath informed him that his qualtagh would bring him good luck. About three weeks later, he staggered out of his house after a spectacular night and ran into his mum, who gave him a bacon and egg pie. And a fancy new computer. Just in case.