TV viewers were left ‘shaken’ after Mary Berry confessed that she had never ordered a takeaway pizza. Twitter went crazy when the 81-year-old made the admission on her cookery programme.

Well I am going to leave anyone who reads this column shaking, quaking and palpitating by confessing that, at the age of 56, I too have never ordered a takeaway pizza.

Why the nation should be shocked by such a confession beats me. I am sure there are many people among the population who have never ordered a home delivery pizza.

We get plenty of takeaway leaflets pushed through our door, not only for pizza but Indian, Chinese, you name it…but I have never, ever been tempted.

This is just one of a number of things that most people have done, but I haven’t. Here are some more: I have never...

... downloaded an app

In fact, I don’t really know what an app is. In the building society with my daughter recently I listened to her chatting to the cashier about downloading this app and that app, and it was like a foreign language. I mentioned this to an elderly lady behind me, who replied that she herself used a banking apps. Sometimes I feel the world is moving on and leaving me behind.

...watched a Harry Potter film or read a Harry Potter book

I have absolutely no interest in the boy wizard and avoid anything fantastical such as Lord Of The Rings, like the plague.

York Press:

Harry who?

...visited a branch of Costa Coffee or Starbucks

If I were looking for a café for a cup of tea I would never choose one of these national chains. I hate those cups they use, with lids that make drinks taste plastic. When I travel to work on the train virtually everyone has a cup of coffee from one of them. It must cost a fortune. Young people seem to live in these places, no wonder they moan about being hard up.

...watched Star Wars

I remember the comedy show ‘I’ve Never Seen Star Wars’, broadcast on BBC Radio 4, in which a celebrity guest tried out experiences that were new to them, but common to many others. I have not seen it, neither do I have any intention of watching it, or any of its billion sequels. The idea of watching people fighting with sabre lights leaves me cold.

Last year - not counting the school gymnasium - I went to a gym for the first time. I recently had my first taste of shellfish - I tried a smoked mussel and was not impressed. I’ve never eaten a prawn, or shrimp, or tried crab meat.

In life we all manage to avoid things, either deliberately or not. I am 56 and not desperate to indulge in new experiences.

A year younger, my husband stunned his colleagues by admitting to having never seen a Die Hard film, so one went out and bought him a box set. He has so far watched one and enjoyed it.

Last month I fulfilled a ‘never have’ dream - my neighbour Betty, aged 88, had not visited McDonalds, and, having seen hundreds of the restaurants in her lifetime, on both sides of the Atlantic, was keen to see what the fuss was about.

So I drove her along the ring road to a smart, recently-opened branch, where she enjoyed a Filet-O-Fish and chips. She loved it and even had a chat to one of the managers, who was thrilled to have her there.

As they say, there’s a first time for everything.

So maybe before I’m 60 I will order my first pizza. You never know I might even eat it watching Star Wars.