In everyday life I am the opposite of a hoarder. At a certain level, “stuff” even my beloved books, becomes oppressive and I take great delight in sorting, ordering and chucking out (usually to some church fete or charity shop) the vast majority of it.

But I am considering hoarding, or to give it the more respectable name, “stockpiling” stuff for the brexit handover months of March/April. Attis time of the year. 70% of the UK’s fresh food is imported, and whilst I do not expect people to starve, I do think there may be empty shelves in supermarkets fro the first time in 40 years.

It isn’t so much a matter of essentials (though there are some I’m thinking of stocking) but rather a list of stuff I do not want to go without because of brexit.

The list starts with hygiene: toilet roll, sanitary products, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, shampoo, soap, bleach, laundry detergent, washing liquid.

These things may never run short, but if they did life would become horrendous pretty quickly. They’re also easy to store.

Then it continues with basic medicines and supplies: paracetamol, ibuprofen, antiseptic spray and cream, vaseline, sudocrem, contraceptives.

And it moves onto basic foodstuffs for the spare freezer in the garage, fruit, vegetables and proteins mainly, but also ice cream and some party snack type food.

Before reaching basic store cupboard items: cereals, rice, pasta, lentils, beans, long life fruit juice and some cordials.

Not forgetting cat food and cat litter for the pets.

As the Chinese curse says: we are living in interesting times.