Coronavirus diary, Sunday 24 May

Some good news from the lockdown. Britain is going to be a shopper's paradise this summer. With millions of pounds worth of stock - especially clothing - stuck in warehouses or on its way by sea from around the world, prices are going to be slashed. Instead of the usual ambiguous 'Up to 50% off ' there will be 60,70 or even 80% reductions, according to the trade experts.

Marks & Spencer says it is mothballing its 2020 fashion collection until next year. 

One broadsheet fashion editor enthuses over a 'gorgeous cocktail dress'  reduced from £900 to £450.

I won't be taking advantage of the bonanza. Well, I might treat myself to some socks or a tee shirt  from Amazon. I won't be going anywhere, certainly not browsing the shops which I used to enjoy. 

The most unusual, and successful sale I can remember was in Toronto many years ago. The Hudson's Bay Company of Canada, founded in the mid 1660s as a fur trading company - the first in the world - went bankrupt. It had to get rid of all the stock in its Canadian stores, including the first, huge, shopping mall in Toronto, the Bay Centre. The plan was to get rid of everything in nine days, reducing the price by ten percent per day. Rosemary and I, on holiday, watched fascinated as the crowds poured in, bargain hunters emptying the shelves.

We looked forward to getting a few bargains but hesitated too long. By day seven they all had been snapped up, On the final day on the last day no one wanted what was left.

All that is needed to get the knock down sales under way here this summer is for Mr Johnson to open our doors.