Hi readers, it’s Emily and William talking about what we take when leaving the house.

We both agreed that over the last couple of years what we take has changed because we will always take a face mask with us now, and probably hand sanitiser.

I, Emily prefer to use debit cards now as I don’t want to handle cash as much because of Covid. Cards are more hygienic!

We both take shopping bags when we’re out buying food, otherwise it’s another 20p for a shopping bag.

Taking our own bags and recycling them is also much better for the environment. In fact I, Emily, pretty much always take my shopping bag with me, even to work, just in case someone rings to ask if I can pick up something like milk or bread on the way home.

If we were going out in the evenings now, we would probably take just the essentials. We think probably the most important thing to remember is our house keys as that would be no fun being stuck outside after a night out! If we lost our phones when out and needed to make an urgent call we would look to find someone safe, like a supermarket security guard or train station attendant, and ask them if they could help and make a call for us.

I, Emily, forgot my phone one day when going to work. It felt really odd not having it with me for the day. It’s amazing to think that it wasn’t so long ago when there weren’t any mobile phones, how did people cope?!

Apart from the essentials like phone, money, face masks and sanitiser, is there anything that you always take with you when you leave the house?

The writers of the Our View column are supported in their editing by People First Dorset - a charity led and run by people with learning disabilities with support from staff