Aimée has been researching dog treats that can be made in the home. We have a dehydrator, obviously.

I know that’s not a normal thing to have in an ordinary kitchen. We don’t have a ricer, or a juicer, the only modern cookery devices we have are for use in the preparation of dog food and treats.

Quite often, Aimée dehydrates things, duck hearts and slices of spleen, for the dogs. I had thought that we might have homemade crisps, but I think I’ve missed the boat on that one, since everything in the kitchen risks the faint aroma of innards.

Anyway, stepping away from the dehydrator for a moment, Aimée had made some bone broth, and decided to turn it into dog-friendly gummy bears.

She warmed it through, added different colour fruit and vegetables (kale, blueberries and beetroot) and set it into moulds. And the resultant treats looked amazing. I envied the dogs and their gummy-numminess.

I was going to do a bit of shopping at the nearest supermarket, and Aimée had found a new recipe. It included so many things, chief among which was either spirulina powder or wheatgerm.

I should explain: I have never knowingly entered a juice bar. This is not for me. I am more of a pint and a pie sort of girl. My only understanding of wheatgerm is what I have learnt from American television, but I can tell – it’s not something I would ordinarily deal with. I’m from Croydon.

When I asked the chef what spirulina was, I got a look. It was a look of ‘please don’t ask me that’. I went further, obviously, and asked whereabouts I might find it in the supermarket.

She said it was probably near tea.

I suggested, if it was a grain, surely I would find it near rice and pasta.

She said it was probably near tea.

I tried again: if it was more of a bakery thing, it would be with flour and sugar.

Probably tea, she repeated.

I decided it would undoubtedly be rather a long shopping trip.

I’ll spare you the journey around the aisles and out of my mind, and simply let you know that both spirulina and wheatgerm were near the flour. They came in one ounce bags. I realise now that I should have looked at the price on the shelf, however my relief at even finding these items removed all logical thought. On arrival at the self-service checkout, I got something of a shock. The spirulina was £5.60, the wheatgerm £7.00.

Now, if this was special stuff to save my life, or prevent some sort of people-pain, I would understand and probably forgive this wanton expenditure.

For the sake of dog treats, that will be chewed and down the gullet in seconds flat, I have little but astonishment. And it’s not as if I went to a swanky store, somewhere with doormen and own-brands twice the price of normal brands. This was in a normal shop. And I have to wonder what has happened to the world that I can even find this stuff in a normal shop.

Such was my shock, indeed, that on passing by my local shop and in dire need of cigarette filters, I had a chat with my old boss.

Like a cold sore, no sooner do you think she’s gone, she’s back again, but we had our first actual conversation in almost eight years. It was very nearly pleasant and I got to thinking ‘maybe she’s not evil’.

On recounting this conversation of chatter and laughs, I was informed, that the shop is a bit short on staff at the moment. She may be trying to hire me back.