Shopping online is all the rage these days but, having tried it, there are a few things that I have learned.  Until the end of last year I was happy to drive down to the shops when the fancy took me but, as the consequence of a small car accident, I decided that it was time for me to give up driving.

During the summer a bus trip to the shops became a bit of an enjoyable weekly pastime, and I was happy to get out on the occasional bright summer morning to the large Sainsbury’s at Bell Green.  I would take a long leisurely look at the contents of the shops with the summer weather being part of the fun, but when the weather changed for the winter, getting up was a bit more of a challenge.  There was a bit too much of a nip in the air for early mornings in the bus queue.

A friend set it all up for me and I now find shopping on line quite a fun thing to do, although I still get out and about during the better weather.

I find the Internet really handy for buying the things that are hard to carry and for stock cupboard items.  So I get the big items on line; the big boxes of cereal and washing powder.  I am also happy to buy the tins and 1 litre bottles of drink; in fact I now buy anything that is packaged in such a way that you can’t see what you are getting before you open the packaging, but when it comes to fruit and certain vegetables, it is my experience that you need to actually see what you are getting for yourself, or get a trusted friend to make the choice for you.  In my opinion, it is not better to internet- shop for the items that most of us are a bit pickier about when choosing in a real shop. So for as long as I can I will be buying my own fruit and veg.

It is another reason to get out, at least for a bit, and keep up to date with what is going on around me.   

MH, Brockley.