It’s back to the Ministry of Truth for some more “doublethink”.

At least that’s how I pessimistically view my return visit to the Job Centre to renew my claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance.

I’ve not been given the name of the “work coach” I’m due to see this time so I head straight to the second floor and hope for the best.

This second visit couldn’t have been more different than the first. It restores my faith in the system.

I’m seen straight away, no waiting around.

The person asks about my closed claim and renewed application. When I explain I was abroad, they ask where I was.

It’s almost as if I’m back at work and colleagues are asking about my return from holiday.

When I give the basic details, it prompts a whole series of questions about whether Switzerland is really as expensive as people say and whether the trains are as efficient as they’re made out to be. In other words, normal human conversation and interaction rather than a mechanical process.

There’s interest too in my broadcasting career and the person explains they have volunteered at a hospital radio station in the past and now help at an internet radio station. They give their views on the changing employment situation in the media and show empathy for my redundancy.

They ask if I’m a celebrity because I’ve been a TV reporter. I scoff at the suggestion but they come straight back with their own line of thinking on the issue: “Anyone who’s on TV who’s not on Crimewatch is a celebrity in my opinion.” I accept their logic but decline their conferred status.

The most interesting part of their job, they tell me, is that they never know who’s going to walk in. They’ve seen unemployed company chief executives on six-figure salaries and a wide range of claimants from all backgrounds and industries.

There are more questions about whether I saw the redundancy coming (yes) and when I was last out of work (1984) before dealing with the admin side of the consultation.

They query my answer to the question about my “usual job or wage”. I explain – as before – the ‘newspeak’ element and they agree that it can be interpreted in different ways. They’d never noticed that before and thank me for pointing it out.

We depart with them wishing me all the best and me feeling there can be a human side to the welfare system. I’m almost looking forward to my next visit.

:: On the way to the session, I returned a book I had borrowed to the local library. It was one I had started earlier in the summer but now had a three-week deadline to finish because it was a library book: “Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.”