As is my custom, I am serialising one of my past books here on the blog, and over the next few weeks, stories from my 2020 collection, Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries, Sometimes Bitter, Sometimes Sweet. I hope you will enjoy.

Technology – The Weekly Shopping

‘Good morning Barbara and how may I assist you this morning?

‘Hi Aida, could I place my grocery order please for delivery tomorrow?’

‘It would be my pleasure and please press the hash key and begin your shopping list.’

• One kilo bag of carrots
• One kilo bag of potatoes
• Two broccoli heads
• Net of Brussel sprouts
• Two leeks
• 3 packs of large onions.
• 500 grams of mushrooms
• 3 Avocados
• 12 tomatoes
• 1 romaine lettuce
• 1 cucumber
• 3 tins of chopped tomatoes
• 4 packets of Baxter’s Choc Chip Cookies
• 3 tubs of Misko luxury salted caramel ice cream
• 6 cherry scones.

‘Sorry Barbara, can I stop you there. I am afraid those last three items cannot be added to your list today.’

‘Why not, I buy them every week, is there a shortage of some sort?’

‘No we have plenty in stock but you are unable to buy them today.’

‘Why ever not, this is outrageous.’