I quite like browsing online and reading reviews about products and goodies and buying online can be relaxing and, if ordering clothes, one can try on in the comfort of the home without pushy sales people ooing and arring over how good each item looks.

I thought a trip to Oxford would be fine. Primark was the store to visit so it would be quick and easy. Jump in the car, drop it off at the Park and Ride, catch the bus and then walk to Primark. Then its just a matter of choosing a couple of items and then repeating the process in reverse. Leave at eleven and be home by one thirty.

Yeah right!! How wrong can a man be?

Leave at eleven and get home at four thirty. It was okay though but it was so tiring. Five and a half hours, four of which were being steered about shops was exhausting. A full-on day at work was less demanding. I have no idea where folk get the energy or enthusiasm to shop regularly and that is before the bills arrive at the tills. And this was a short trip with only a few stores visited, most of which was overpriced tat. I guess I am not fashionable.

However, I was a good chap. I didn’t moan or make any obvious signs or shows of boredom and carried the bags and baskets and gave my opinion when asked.

Actually it was not that bad for an occasional thing to do on a Sunday and it was far better than sitting on the sofa, eating crap and watching television.

The oner very sad sight was the amount of homeless people I saw sitting in doorways and wrapped in blankets. I appreciate some are professional beggars but I bet many are genuine cases of hardship. Freezing cold weather and utterly miserable. It does make one stop and think how lucky we are to have somewhere warm and comfortable to call home rather than a windswept doorway or hard street bench.

Shopping then. A leisure activity I will leave to those who enjoy it and have reason to tackle the high streets. For me online or no shopping is the way I shall continue my habit.