Yesterday I was clearing some emails when I came across the Which? promotional email for this month’s magazine – which is due shortly. Scrolling through I saw an article comparing the cheapest and most expensive car cleaning kits (there is very little!) with one exception – a drying towel.

As car cleaning is a regular activity for me I was intrigued – to the point where I went on to Amazon and ordered one. Less than a day later it has arrived and looks most promising.

There is nothing remarkable about this story – except that 20 years ago it would not have happened. 20 years ago Which? arrived in the post and, if I had read the article then, I would have gone to Halfords on my next shopping trip and asked if it was in stock.

By chance I went to Halfords this afternoon – and it has closed down!