Yesterday, here in Galicia, I drove 11km to a town that was too big, too complicated, too busy, to buy a few specific items. After 40 mins, I returned home empty handed, having driven around, unable to find the specific store I was looking for. I was grateful to return, once I found my way out of the town's complex and confusing road system.

Today, I walked less than 0.5km from our cottage, into the village, went to the baker, who sold one dough, shaped into 3 shapes, long large, long small, or round, and bought a loaf. No need to think for a long time, nothing to choose. Simple. The bakery, run by a mother and son, sells only bread and empanadas, which come in 2 sizes, one flavour.

The butcher up the road offers sausages, steaks and shanks, that’s it. A simple choice again (simpler still for me, being vegetarian).

The grocer on the corner, green beans, carrots, potatoes, oranges, lemons, salad leaves, onions and peppers, with the odd other item. All fresh, all local. Simple.

Today, it was such a delight to shop in this way, buying only the bread that we needed for breakfast, now sharing it, seated by the log burner, bread warmed on top, dipped in olive oil, seasoned simply with salt and pepper.

A living lesson in the beauty of simplicity.