A NEW WORLD

A NEW WORLD WRITER JO HENWOOD ON THE UPS AND DOWNS OF A NEW WAY OF LIVING.

As a coeliac I have to have gluten free foods including bread, pasta and other cereals. A friend who works on Asda’s bakery counter told me she had been watching shoppers who’d spotted the gluten free pasta move quietly over to the Free From aisle. A tannoy announcement at my local Asda began politely: “May we remind you that items will be restricted to three per person – except toilet rolls which will be restricted to one.”

Now there is none left. I hope they aren’t disappointed when they discover it doesn’t taste like normal pasta, is hopeless for pasta salad because it goes hard when cold and isn’t really pasta at all but rice, corn or buckwheat!

Seriously, please remember when you venture into the speciality food market that people have to eat this sort of food to keep them healthy.

Being coeliac isn’t all bad though. I noticed on Twitter that a family in my area was trying to get hold of yeast to make bread with their children, to no avail. I have packets of the stuff – it used to come inside my gluten free flour packs. I’ll never use it and the family are self

isolating so I washed my hands, popped a few pouches in a clean plastic bag and left them by my gate for them to pick up.

Small shops are doing well. My husband, currently out of action after surgery, is

walking to the local shops for exercise. Our butcher said he had never been

so busy. As people work from home they’re

realising what’s on their doorstep.

It’s looking like we will be social distancing for some time. Let’s hope that we all learn lessons from this and make better decisions. That we balance what we need from what we want and start to appreciate the simple things like a coffee with a friend, a trip to the theatre, watching the football or celebrating special occasions. These things can no longer be taken for granted.