IF I have one mission in life, it is to make things as easy as possible.

With two small, very determined boys, a husband and a recalcitrant cat, I find this very difficult to achieve at times, but I do try.

One of my mainstays is doing all my shopping via the internet. We must have been one of the first families in the area to do so and had been waiting for ages for the chance.

One day my husband rang, in an audible fizz of excitement, to say that the systems were up and running and he'd be coming home early that night so that we could go cyber shopping.

And I have to say, it immediately it became clear that there were many advantages to shopping from the comfort of your own home.

One being that nobody gets the opportunity to sneak a peek at what's in your trolley. You know what I mean a whippet thin lady will give your multi-pack of cream buns a withering glance as she sails past with a trolley load of rocket and lollo rosso and bottles of low calorie water on the side.

Another distinct advantage of armchair purchasing is that you don't have to dress to impress.

After all, there is nothing worse than bumping into someone you know in the dairy aisle when you are wearing frumpy shoes and have only remembered to put mascara over one eye.

Plus, there's no parking to worry about of course and you can sip a G and T while pushing an over-loaded virtual trolley.

'Yes, but I love the chance to browse and squeeze avocados to check they are ripe' you say.

So speaketh a singleton or someone who isn't a parent I reply. In other words, given the choice between dragging two screaming kids around a packed supermarket or letting your fingers do the walking, it's easy to see what most people I know would choose.

The only time that food shopping is fun is when you are expecting friends round or it is a special occasion. Shopping for loo rolls and grapefruit is never fun.

Perhaps I'm at my smuggest however when the delivery van rolls up outside my door and someone insists on carrying the bags inside for me.

Yes, times like this, I think I was born to shop. I can never resist a quick peek up and down the road to check that everyone is watching me having shopping delivered.

The only bad bit is having to unpack the shopping but I'm hoping that even that service may soon be offered.