Mobile information desk!

Sometimes I think I have a big placard round my neck saying 'Ask me anything' or perhaps I should put one there because very often when I am shopping people come up to me and ask the strangest questions. In the past, I have been asked about which wine to serve with a particular dish to what is the best cure for heartburn or the quickest way to another part of the city. The problem with the last one is that after I've given directions and the person has driven off, I realise that I've sent them down a one way street or worse still, through a pedestrian only area because I won't drive in the city and either walk everywhere or use a bus now that I have my bus pass!
This morning while I was in the Tesco Metro minding my own business, as you do, a man who looked as if he came Morocco or Tunisia asked me which was the best spread to use. He had some Utterly Butterly and Vitalite in his hands and had obviously been puzzling over this for some time. I asked him what he was going to use it for and pointed out that both were unsuitable if he wanted to cook with it because they were low fat and would go watery. He said he wanted it for spreading on toast and with bread. Then I suggested he try one of the olive spreads because it was more versatile and would be better for his health and his heart. We then had a discussion about the various properties of the different spreads and butters on the shelves and eventually he made his choice and went on his way.
I think the strangest encounter I had was one evening in our big Tesco when I was stopped by a young Somali boy about 10 years old who was with his Mum. He asked me what custard was and how to make it. His English was quite good but Mum obviously couldn't understand a word or speak it. I explained that it was a hot, sweet sauce that could be poured over fruit or hot fruit pies etc. so he repeated what I said to his Mum and then after some discussion between the pair of them he asked if it was easy to make. I told him it was quite easy and went through the instructions on the tin which he in turn passed on to Mum in Somali. Then I told him that they could buy it already made and duly found some which I showed to them. After yet another discussion in Somali they decided to take some and Mum said something else to him. He looked a bit embarassed and finally asked if I could show them what sort of things they could eat it with. So off I went with both of them following me to the dessert section where I showed them the fruit pies and also some steamed puddings. As these had pictures on the packaging I thought it would help them to decide what they were going to try. Mum and boy looked as pleased as punch and both thanked me with great big smiles so I left them to decide and went to continue my own shopping.
After all that, I was looking at the pre-packed fish for some to put in the freezer at home when an elderly gentleman asked me if I could tell him the best way to cook trout!