Today, on our way out in the car, and following some hushed discussions on the back seat, Hannah (one of our 4-year-old twins) suddenly asked, “Daddy! Is nineteen a big number?”

Well, how do you answer that? At that age I’d say it was pretty much right on the cusp between little and big, but without knowing the context (which, of course, they wouldn’t give me) it was about the toughest question I’ve faced to date as a father.

So, resourceful as ever, on our arrival back home I asked Google. Fat bloody use Google was. In my growing desperation, I turned to Jeeves but he was having none of it either.

Plan C is to refer the matter to the Guardian’s Notes And Queries column, but until such time as (a) it gets published, and (b) anyone answers (both slim prospects, I suspect), can anyone tell me: is 19 a big number? (And if so, how big?)