When you see special offers on the shelves, your rational brain tends to go soppy with thanks and makes you want to return the favour by splashing out on unnecessary items.

Today, neatly stacked upon the supermarket shelves, paper gifts from kitchenware to Gucci accessories can be bought, then burnt or entombed for use in the afterlife.

I miss leisurely perusing the vitamin aisle, the stacks of fresh brown rice sushi, the mysterious cookies made in some dude's garage in Santa Cruz.