Love your latest anecdote, Splinter. Had me chuckling. I got lost in Woolworths in Lewisham when I was around the same age. I can remember how terrified I was when I realised Mum wasn't there. I think she had stopped to look at something and I'd walked on. Every woman seemed to have the same brown coat on and I kept running up to find only a stranger. Being very, very shy, I was too scared to tell anyone I was lost and didn't cry, but oh my goodness, my poor little heart was racing. Then I heard Mum yell, "Brenda, wherever you are, stand still and I'll find you." And she did of course. Tell you what though, it was a long time before I felt safe going shopping again.
Bren