My first visit to Mr G for several weeks and he was on sparkling form. Looking well and stylishly dressed, his highly amusing worldview was to the fore as soon as I arrived. As well as the usual topics, he told stories about some (sometimes notorious) celebrities who are his distant relatives or old acquaintances.

He showed me a photo of himself in the early 1980s which to my mind bore a striking resemblance to the vocalist in a famous Mancunian band. Sheepishly acknowledging the similarity, Mr G insisted that he himself had pioneered the distinctive hairstyle.

Shopping was straightforward: nothing had changed in the list or moved location in the store. Securing the last paninis on the shelf added to the satisfaction of an enjoyable mission.