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…to the merely ridiculous” is what Bill Leslie would have said.

Walking past Daniela Diehl, a flash boutique in Mainz’s Altstadt, and Mrs jb spies a pair of purple shoes.

“Oh” she says ” I like THOSE! You’ve got your glasses on – how much are they”

“200 reduced to 120 reduced to 39”

“And which size”

“39” I say “How cool is that? Do the size 38s cost €38 or what?”

To no-one in particular.

Mrs jb’s already in the shop, trying them on.

I drift in and mumble something about people with large feet being marginalised, because size 40 would cost €40.

Blank look from the salesgirlalmostpensioner and a sympathetic “I see that it’s your turn to take the village idiot shopping” glance towards Mrs jb.

“So that’s €120, but you can have them for €100”

Penny drops.

My fault of course and we haven’t really saved €161 (which we would have spent immediately on some other fashion item), we’ve only saved €100.

So I’ve somehow lost €61 along the way.

Typical