Mrs M had unfortunately been hit with the dreaded C-word, and was having to isolate herself away. She needed some shopping supplies urgently, as she could not go out to get them herself.

Cue GoodGym to the rescue. I had a few items already on a list for Mrs M, but gave her a call to see what else she wanted. She said she was happy with anything, any essentials, any help she would be grateful for.

So I had a Lidl browse round her local supermarket. In went milk, chicken breasts, fish fingers, brown bread, carrots, potatoes, cheese and ham, plus sweet sweet frosted flakes. I went rogue for the rest… Some veg, some beans and spaghetti hoops, pasta and pesto is always the perfect store cupboard essential meal, soup, snacks and some chocolate biscuits, because you can’t do isolation without chocolate biscuits.

Mrs M was getting her fill, and I also got a bit carried away myself in the middle of Lidl, and purchased a brand new reflective jacket, some fancy looking chocolates, ooh batteries… I had to stop myself quickly, so went to pay sharpish.

My bags were full (not just with my spontaneous random purchases) but with Mrs M’s goods. The problem with a lot of store cupboard essentials is that they are heavy. I couldn’t cycle across Shepherds Bush laden down with so many heavy tins, 6 pints of milk, several kilos of veg… so I had to wheel along with the bags precariously balanced on either handlebar, and praying that the bags for life would last the journey across the green!

I arrived at Mrs M’s, egg-static that everything was still in one piece, and gave her a ring to let her know I was outside. In true covid style, she came to the window and we had a phone call with only the glass to separate us! Mrs M was grateful, and hopefully she got the supplies she wanted and needed (and appreciated the biscuits!), and is out of isolation soon!