Sandra Chapman: Decked out in mask and rubber gloves, I finally ventured out to large supermarket this week

I ventured out this week to a large supermarket decked out with mask and rubber gloves to do the kind of shopping I haven’t been able to do for weeks.

I have had to live with Himself doing it as, unlike me, he hasn’t any health issues that puts him at risk.

Our local supermarket has been wonderful, well stocked and well organised with security, but when you are limited to practically a vegan diet then that requires different types of food only available in the large stores.

The queue seemed to be a mile long at the supermarket and I studied it for a while before I got out of the car.

I have a bad back as well. How long would I survive in the long wait to get in? All questions I never ever had to consider in the past. How times have changed.

There was nothing for it but to join the queue – at least it wasn’t raining – and everyone one else seemed civilised and patient.

A person not endowed with a lot of patience at the best of times, I gritted my teeth, buttoned up my coat and took my place.

Surprisingly, the queue was moving faster than it appeared from the car. An older, grey haired lady joined the queue somewhere behind me.

A member of staff, who had obviously sized up those waiting, signalled to the grey haired lady to come forward and she took her ahead of us explaining to the rest of us that anyone 75 or over gets priority.

I told the lady in front – a complete stranger to me - that I was in my 75th year and I suppose that wouldn’t count.

Quick as a flash she hailed the member of staff, still with the grey haired one in tow, and informed her I was in my 75th year. The staffer said the company had set the age at 75, but then she must have taken pity on me as she signalled for me to come forward.

I thanked my new found benefactor in front of me and headed off, mask and rubber gloves in place.

I would like to think all those others in the queue thought that as I didn’t look nearly 75 why was I getting preference?

Obviously this lockdown hasn’t deprived me of my vanity when it comes to preferential treatment, but wearing a mask and rubber gloves did upset it somewhat.

Inside the store, not that many shoppers were kitted out in the same garb. Is this a sign that everyone is fed up to the teeth with Covid-19 and are taking a chance that it won’t jump out and bite them when they’ve relaxed their personal security?

Remembering about the arrows on the floor was difficult as I kept diving off to grab an item I was looking for.

But where was the counter for those specialist foods I was after?

I’ve starved myself long enough and didn’t plan to go home without something I could eat.

Eventually, several arrows later, it came into view. The contents of every item I needed had to be thoroughly read, a task which took time and left me perspiring behind the mask and my glasses steaming up.

My spirits rose somewhat when I realised I could get nice things like mousses, biscuits with chocolate, (not real chocolate of course, but it tastes the same) and cakes.

I packed the trolley with gluten free pastas and, mercifully, they had feta cheese, as all other cheese is right off my menu now.

Lockdown or not I wasn’t going to starve or spend nights eating nothing but potatoes and salad without tomatoes, another no-no for me.

Himself was greatly impressed when I got home. No more moaning from me about what I can’t eat.

Gallantly, he offered to eat the same menu. I think this was due to his idea that he wouldn’t have to do the shopping any longer.

But, would he survive eating fake chocolate, chips without the flour, noodles and bread that feels as though it was baked a year ago? I think he would be visiting the chippy a lot.