While it’s fresh in my head, I must relate my latest humiliating experience at a supermarket in town.

The old adage that the customer is always right mustn’t exist any more – more like the customer is always to be pitied.

I had filled my trolley that day as swiftly as possible, as there was a parent-teacher meeting at school to get to with Fionnuala.

The message was that no-one was to be late – ensure a seamless transition… show respect for other parents… teachers are giving up their precious time etc.

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None of this was a problem, and the meeting wasn’t going to be a worry either, as Fiadh was a model student – I would attend and enjoy the pat on the back that I, in part, deserved – but in the supermarket, I got caught up browsing the special offers, never intending to buy, merely amusing myself at the wares: a power washer beside children’s underwear;........

© The Irish News