My View, The only people celebrating misery of divorce are the stores

You could feel the relief and sheer elation which showed so clearly on her face.

Yet in most cases, any initial euphoria is short-lived, as the reality of divorce kicks in.

For most, divorce is a devastating and miserable time. A period of conflicting emotions and trauma, particularly if children are involved.

Yes, to some it does signal the start of a fresh chapter in their life, but for many it is the end of something which was once so precious.

There are those who wish to celebrate this fact. Take Katie Price and Heather Mills, who both threw divorce parties once their decree absolutes came through; I suppose they can afford to.

Now Debenhams has jumped on the bandwagon and launched a Divorce List – similar to a Wedding List, it contains useful suggestions to give to someone recently divorced, such as toasters, TVs, and soundsystems.

A spokesman for the department store insisted the service was simply answering a modern demand. It was, the company said, a natural successor to the range of divorce greetings cards which have moved from the niche to the mass market.

I remember the misery of my parents' divorce. I can't imagine anything my mum would have wanted less than a toaster to symbolise the highs and lows of their failed marriage – unless it was to throw at my dad.

Would a gift of a toaster have made her feel any less of a failure? Any less betrayed and angry? I have a pretty good idea where she might have told the person where to stick their toaster.

I am not saying that she didn't raise a glass (or two) when it was all over. But she did it with some decorum and tact and I am sure that the idea of throwing a party would have appalled her, if for no other reason than to spare us, the children, from more heartache.

However "good" the divorce, I cannot see the need to celebrate it. Someone somewhere has usually been hurt, even if it isn't you, and therefore it seems rather callous to hold a party or receive gifts.

It seems once again to be the cynical marketing man (or woman) who has spotted an untapped source of income and is set to exploit it.

In the past, it was normally only the lawyers who came out victorious and profiting from any divorce settlement. It now appears that Debenhams, and no doubt other stores, will be making money from the misery of marriage break-up.