Let down by the world's politest supermarket...something I thought couldn't ever happen, an image shattered. Waitrose at Brunswick Square had suffered an IT failure and was shut this morning (I think IT failure was Waitrose speak for power cut, but wasn't going to pry further) - and the friendly staff were pointing their regulars away with profuse apologies.

With Ms J's list in hand, it was decision time - a quick check and the next nearest Waitrose was up in Coal Drops Yard behind Kings Cross - so a rapid pedal on the bike whereupon I discovered a whole new world of Waitrose - well stocked, largely empty of shoppers and with the same exceedingly polite and helpful staff. All of Ms J's items were easy to find - my only challenge was fitting them in my back pack to pedal back to her flat...and not break the eggs.

Whereas my usual shop for Ms J usually sees me back within 20 minutes, it had been over an hour when I finally rang her buzzer - I apologised for the delay and she said she'd got concerned - I admitted I hadn't got lost on the way, but explained the "IT failure" and needing to find the next best Waitrose on the list. She was very grateful for my efforts to go the extra distance to get her shopping this week...I guess this puts a whole new meaning to food miles.