I was thinking about Leah's shop, which along with her home was destroyed in a wild fire. She posted a photo of it some years before the disaster, and I remember being so envious. How wonderful to have owned it, and how lovely too for those who shopped there.

I used to run errands from an early age. Our family situation was strange for sure, but I do think young kids were given more freedom and expected to help at that time. I loved shops of all kinds.

My favourite trips were to Mrs.Marshall's grocery shop. Like many small shops it was the front room of her house. I used to produce my list, and watch fascinated as she worked through it. Sugar was weighed into indigo blue bags, butter and cheese sliced off huge blocks and wrapped in greaseproof paper, my mother's ‘pads’ would be discreetly hidden in a sheet of newspaper hidden at the bottom of the bag.

The prices were written on the list, and the amount of change given. Depending on my mother's mental state I could sometimes get away with handing back some of the change for sweets, eaten on the way back. Mrs M would obligingly not write this down. One day I asked her if I could have a job there, no pay just some sweets or pop .She told me to come back when I was older.

I have worked in a few types of shops in my life, and indeed my ex and I had our own shop which we lived over. It sold, depending on your taste, fine antiques, objects d'art and rare books, or a load of old tat.

For years a shopping trip, especially for clothes or nice things for the house, was a real treat. Now I shop for basics and food, but clothes (unless from charity shops) and books are usually bought online. I like having things, but no longer take any pleasure in seeking them out. I don't like changing rooms (those mirrors!) and there is just too much choice, too many other people .

I thought Spock would name B&Q as his favourite shop, but he said he preferred the days when the only drill was a Black and Decker bought at the local hardware shop.

Is shopping therapeutic for you, or a nightmare of indecision and crowds?

Val

A Moodscope member