Some emails Receiving e mails from readers is always an honour. Sometimes they're just saying "well done" – and how encouraging that is on a Monday morning! Others offer you a glimpse of their lives, both happy and sad; kind in a different way. And then others still wonder if you're the same Simon Parke who once... Anyway, enjoy the slice of British life below. Name: Sue Message: hi simon just wanted to say i really enjoyed your column in the weekender, it really made me chuckle. I have worked in a supermarket for 18 years and can relate to all the things you said. I am really looking forward to next weeks piece. CHEERS !! Name: Nick Message: Hello Simon, I've just found your super market diaries in the Daily Mail, Saturday Magazine. I'm looking forward to reading these as I have a slight similarity that strikes a chord with me. I happen to be the no.2 in a huge (and I MEAN HUGE) supermarket, the e-mail address gives it away, but also in my spare time a lay clerk at a nearby cathedral. It's an uneasy partnership and gets quite testing at Christmas & Easter!! Like I say look forward to reading more in the coming weeks Nick Name: Andy Message: Simon, I am enjoying your weekly column in the mail. It suddenly struck me, are you the same Simon Parke Whose fingers i trapped in the car door on my first day at GW school in 1964!! and who was my best friend through to 1968 Name: jason Message: I have read your first instalment of "shelf life". I too am just over 50 & work in a well known supermarket. It's about time somebody wrote about these shops and the goings on. look forward to buying your book when you publish. Jay Name: Tina Message: Dear Simon, I read your article in The Saturday Mail about working in the supermarket, oh what joy I got from reading it and I was chuckling out loud!!! I can't wait for next week ! I feel I will be reading a lot more on your website , wonderful, peace and serenity to you , best wishes Tina Name: Kirsty Message: Hi Simon, I read your very amusing column in the mail on Saturday. Let's set the scene in my house , I had the "Royal Visit"(mother in law coming round)on Saturday afternoon, She is very house proud and puts her finger along the top of the doors to look for dust, we are currently renovating and dust is currently my best friend ! and she mentioned our windows could do with a clean. I just sat quietly in the corner on a planks of wood reading your article and it made me really laugh and made me forget about her comments for at least twenty mins, so i thought i would drop you a quick line to say thanks and look forward to next weeks chapter. Have a good week. Regards Kirsty Name: Susan Message: Can I just say I absolutely loved the first edition of "Shelf Life" in the Daily Mail yesterday. It was brilliantly entertaining and an acute observation of the human psyche of "normal" everyday people. I think you are wonderfully talented! I am presently laid up with a broken leg so reading this really cheered me up. I am so looking forward to the next edition! Regards, Susan PS What a fascinating life you have had! Name: Liz age 37 Message: Read your article in the Mail yesterday, it was soo funny. Will follow it every week. I used to work for Tesco's and my mum for Sainsburys we can both identify where you're coming from. Keep up the good work. Name: Tania Message: I read your piece on Supermarket Wars in the Mail. I laughed my head off. I spent one year stacking shelves for one of the big four supermarkets. I worked nights/early mornings. I found it highly amusing place to work in. I wanted to get away from office politics. What did I find. Another form of supermarket politics. It just goes to show that you cannot avoid the vagaries of life and sniping people. Name: Emma Message: Hi there , I really liked your article in this weekend "weekend" magazine, I have done many jobs but am a team leader in a supermarket so I can appreciate what you are saying and it all rings true. I am also trying to become a writer and wondered if you could give me an tips or directions on how I can go about doing this. Best Regards Emma Name: David Message: i read your story in last saturday's weekend mail and found it refectied simalar things as to our business. we own a cafe in east yorkshire Name: stew Message: Discovered Shelf Life today and knew after the second para that you are brilliant. Found last weeks in the bin and read it too. Love the characters - I've met them all somewhere! Thanks for the laugh. Name: Chris Message: Dear Simon, thank you for giving me the biggest laugh of today. I have just read Shelf Life (16/2/08). I have been following it for a few weeks now but just had to say how funny it is. God certainly moves in mysterious ways, as you know only too well. If you had not given up the church then we would never have read your brilliant column. Did you make your congregation laugh. Thanks once again. Chris Ward Name: Robert Message: Hi Simon, my wife and I are enjoying your weekly Supermarket Wars serial in the Saturday Mail. I see from your website that their may be archives prior to those in "the mail'. How do I go about accessing these as they make my wife smile. She is a stock replenishment assistant (shelf stacker) and has worked at Sainsburys for the last 10 years. She was diagnosed with leukemia on 21.1.08 and will be spending around 6 months in hospital and cannot see our 3 children due to her low immunity. Her Saturday mornings are happy ones mainly due to your supermarket stories which she can both relate and to and laugh at. Keep up the good work. thanks. Robert Name: Paul Message: Hi Simon, Really enjoying your articles in Saturdays Mail. As a Cell Group leader in my church (Salvation Army, Leicester South) I have started to use your article as a regular slot for both humour and challenge. May God continue to richly bless and inspire you. Highest regards Paul Name: Jill Message: Hi Simon, have been reading your articles in the Weekend magazine, and couldn't help wonder if you were the same Simon Parke that used to have your copying/printing done in Kall Kwik Seven sisters rd, I used to own the shop with my husband Simon and often remember you coming in. Anyway keep up the good work with the articles, they make me laugh! Regards Jill Name: ann Message: Hello Simon, many thanks for bringing joy and light relief into my life through your writing and site which I have recently discovered. I think your supermarket tale is brilliant. I look forward to many happy hours with you(as it were)many thanks, Ann Name: Carole Message: I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying your column in the mail. Its an awful paper which my mother takes, yet I've found myself really looking forward to it's arrival each week - thanks to your column, which is a fantastic! I'm struck by your experience and how our 40's - what used to be called "mid-life" seems to herald an almost universal desire for refreshment in almost every area of life. I've experienced this myself - and taken action - and am inspired by your own courage. God bless your endeavour and your contribution. Best wishes Name: alia Message: love your work. you write just like my darling husband John. you could be twins! our supermarket serial is a blow by blow account of the early years of our marriage! you must come over to our house for dinner. i would love my boys to learn how to write from you. regards, a fan! Name: Peter Message: Guilty as charged of sometimes treating supermarket check-out staff as organic extensions to the till. Life sentence: Treat ALL the staff as if they were friends (actually some of them are in my small town) with the respect that they deserve. It's never too late to change. Thanks Peter Name: Simon Message: Been reading your weekly story in the Daily Mail and it must be the best bit of the Weekend magazine. I just crack up reading it. Brings a smile to my face every time which can only be good. Name: liz Message: I am a manager for a major supermarket and have been enjoying your serial in the Daily Mail. due to holidays etc., i have missed quite a few. can i get prints or anything. I have been sharing them with my team at work, they are really quite accurate!!! Name: Ann Message: Just to say how much I enjoyed your supermarket article in today's Weekend supplement. A real treat which I stumbled upon quite unexpectedly whilst pessimistically slurping my coffee in bed this morning. You've brightened my day - so thanks for that! Name: George Message: Hello Simon, Warm regards and just to let you know that even though I rarely buy the paper, I peruse through the Sunday Magazines, mostly at work to find your "Supermarket Wars". It is hilarious, brightens my day - you have a clever and witty way of telling the story - you actually make me laugh...Faith needs faith, the boss wants Faith! Keep it going. Name: jackie Message: Hi Simon, I found you through The Daily Mail and love you!!! You are so funny and really cheer me up, I look forward to reading anything you write. Jackiexxx Name: Janice Message: Can't find the exact words to describe just how superb i think The Crying Game column in Weekend magazine is. Having worked in various areas of Retail for many years, it's so refreshing to find someone who has retained their sense of humour whilst battling against the do as i say, not as i do culture. We find that those working in Retailing are often criticised unfairly. In my experience most top managers are all too full of their own self importance, devoid of any s o h and will delegate all of their duties to some hardworking employees on a fraction or their salary, but who work several times harder. These managers have no experience in the REAL world of working on the front line and have no man-management skills. I'm loving the characters portrayed in the weekly column and i can't wait for Saturday. Keep up the good work. Fantastic! Name: laura Message: Dear Simon, I am ashamed to admit that prior to your column in the Mail I had never heard of you! I am an avid reader and have the full collection of Babylon books (should I be admitting to that!) - Air, Hotel, Fashion and Beach. I really enjoy the fly on the wall stuff and therefore immediately turn to your column every Saturday. I love observational humour and would just like to say how much I am enjoying your supermarket hell! Name: peter Message: Hi there. just to say that I have been following your supermkt tales. I worked in various jobs most of my life but the last ten years has seen me work for sainsburys so I can relate entirely with much of your writing. Do keep up the good work because in a supertmkt all human life is there and much more. I always said that a book or tv programme set in a supermkt would not be believed but it sure does. all the best. Name: Wayne Message: Hi Simon , just read this Weeks article in the Mail . Have not laughed so much for ages. As a retail manager of 20 years (recently managed to escape though)it is just such an accurate account!! Thanks Name: Elle Message: Hello Simon, I'd just like to applaud you on your laugh-out-loud "Shelf-Life" published in the Mail on Saturdays. I absolutely love reading stuff like this, its so well written and laced with dry-black humour that it makes me smile for hours .. I can't wait for next weeks LOL! Thanks again Elle. Name: alan norman Message: really enjoy your pieces in the mail, ive tried to work in supermarkets, but dont seem to be able to conform Name: lan Message: Hello, I am a chartered Engineer who due to redundancy went to work at a Garden Centre for three years until I retired last year. I love your Supermarket stories as I know all these characters especially the manager and all the boring tasks and variety of people and personalities and I think your stories are wonderful because they are so similar to those which I recount to my astounded friends. If ever you make it into a book I will certainly buy it. We called our Manager the boy because customers said they had spoken to that nice young boy then he became skippy because he used to run from task to task or to the office to impress everyone ! Thanks for the laughs Alan Name: Maggie Message: Hi Simon, Have you considered publishing your column in the Weekend Daily Mail in book form? It's the first thing I check on Saturday morning and I dread the day when, as all good things do, it comes to an end. Long may your supermarket stay open! Kind regards Maggie Name: Nic Message: Hello, Just wanted to say how much I'm enjoying your Shelf Life pieces. HR explained as Harmful Relationships sums it up perfectly! With best wishes Nic Name: Adele Message: I've read for a few weeks in the Saturday Mail magazine that - "Simon Parke was a priest in the C of E for 20 years - then he gave it up..." But, with respect, it seems to me that you did not give it up - the focus of your priesthood simply moved. Wow! Name: lucy Message: Have been really enjoying your articles in daily mail, I am the daughter of a church of england priest and also worked for Tesco for 11 & half years keep up the writing what you write is so true!!!!! Name: Dan Message: Just a note to say thank u Mr. Parke. From a 30 year old who has so many pages of A4 the loft is shedding plaster, simply because he just likes writing. Thanks for making me look forward to stealing my dads daily mail weekend magazine every Saturday. Not for the thrill of seeing the vein in his retired hairline throb when he can't find it, but to read what is happening in the supermarket that week. That's it really. Just thanks. Dan. Name: Tina Message: After reading your diaries of working in the supermarket in the Daily Mail, I was wondering if there is a book about your experiences in the supermarket out there I can buy? Please say there is cos they're sooooo funny. Order your copy of Shelf Life More books   © Simon Parke