Supply chain problems have emptied car lots across southern Ontario and put off thousands of construction and renovation projects, including my damnable bathroom. Large stretches of shelving at Canadian Tire lie empty or stacked with bulky, low-value local goods, such as garden waste bags, paper towels and pet litter, that would normally be in bins blocking the gangway.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, COVID is the thief that keeps on taking.