After a fortnight of school and scuffed shoes we discovered the house was out of polish. Wilkos – the purveyor of such essential household items - was also no long our go-to.

So after less than six seconds internally debating whether I could be bothered to try the nearest supermarket – I went online and ordered it. (Should have perhaps thrown light bulbs and batteries in for good measure.)

Like many of us I’ll mourn the loss of Wilko.

Not least because having a branch a stone’s throw from our cinema has meant I’ve saved an absolute fortune in pick and mix over the years.

And while my recollection of Woolworths is hazy – until it too comes to the sweets – I think in many ways Wilko filled the gap.

Its demise too, just like Woolies, is a stark reminder of the perilous state many of our high streets are in.

In fact grim news from the likes of John Lewis and Primark this past week about the damage shoplifters are doing to stock and profits, remind us the problems for bosses are now far greater than just that of fading footfall.

Dame Sharon White, head of the John Lewis Partnership, says work is needed to make town centres welcoming places. And while I might agree, I’m not sure what it would take to get me shop there regularly?

Because I’ve become a high street hypocrite.

When I was child, visiting the town centre is something you did weekly.

I couldn’t tell you the last time I took mine – only to say it probably involved pick and mix and the cinema. Even back to school lists can be chalked off with the click of a button.

How many of us also now only mooch if we’ve time to kill or it’s the route between the car park and the bank (also perilously close to becoming an endangered species in many places).

I’ll also admit however to being the first to bemoan a lack of available options!

Yet greater choice forced me ‘out of town’ a fortnight ago and I’ll be honest – I was bored after an hour.

Between the traffic to get there, long queues, absence of checkout staff and lack of available sizes, I was over it within 60 minutes and went for dinner instead. And I just wasn’t sorry about it.

Once upon a time shopping would have been my Olympic sport - but my stamina now is shoddy. Perhaps lockdown and Covid killed it?

Maybe social media’s constant stream of adverts for items I place on a mental wish list for the next birthday, special occasion etc, also means I’ve no longer a need anymore for window shopping?

Perhaps also – I’m just lazy now? Having grown so reliant on the convenience of deliveries to my door I can’t be bothered with the real deal?

But I also cannot be the only one who will grumble about what’s on offer in the high street and then hammer another nail in its coffin with my next online order?