They were good times, Covent Garden, Oxford Street, not a stone unturned, a welcoming shop not missed.

Oh London Town, what fun we had!

You need to find a certain kind of person to be a truly matched shopping pal. I was lucky, I had the best.

Straight from the breakfast table of a central hotel, we were pounding the pavements in minutes. I remember the days as always being sunny and dry. But maybe that’s what my memory wants to hold onto and that’s fine by me. It makes the picture even more joyous.

One day, purchases yet to me made we stopped for coffee. The name of the place escapes me, but I can see it clearly, down an escalator to a spacious seating area. Without the distraction of devices around us there was a chatter. In the background, music, probably. And then it was disrupted with the breaking news that Kirsty McColl has been killed in a boating or maybe jet ski accident. It was quite a shocking moment. I imagine we looked at each other with a mutual sadness, maybe quiet for a while, as life reminded us how fragile is can be.

We picked ourselves up, brushed ourselves off and continued with the day, our moods lifting as we enjoyed our companionship.

That day in question I have no recollection of where we went for a snack, maybe the little road off Regent Street. Constantly in the search of the perfect jacket potatoes was my cherished friend. It made me smile. It still does.

Refreshed and nourished we would continue our quest. A glance at a shop front, over the threshold and we were off. She one way, me another. Occasionally we would catch each others eye, or gesture we were off to try something on.

And so the day would continue as we built up our assortment of colourful carrier bags, shiny and new.They were a thing back then. Not demonised as they are today.

With energy and alloted finances spent we would head off to a special little place. A London boozer, with a snug, for two. There with a pint of the finest they had to offer, we would excitedly unpack our spoils.

How the memories of those days stay with me.Vivid, like it was only yesterday.