Going to Town

We had to drive into Ennis on Tuesday to deal with some of the more mundane chores of life. Finally managed to drop into the wine merchants and a helpful chat with the proprietor – a young American from Detroit. It appears that the tax and other costs imposed on wine imports to Ireland add up to about €3.30 on every bottle. Adding this to the limited demand (compared to the UK) and subsequently higher purchase prices from the supplier means that you are unlikely to buy any drinkable wine for much less than €10. This means that the more expensive the wine the closer the comparison with UK prices. I was convinced anyway and bought a selection of his wares to taste over the next week so that we can finally stock up the cellar!
Also had to make time for a visit to that staple of Irish shopping – the hardware store – there seems to be one in every town - more like Aladdin’s cave than B&Q! You can always fine that essential thing you didn’t know you needed – and always at the keenest prices. Our purchases so far have ranged from baking tins to garden tools, peat briquettes to electric wire and even a feather duster. Like bookshops, they are hard to avoid – I am always tempted to poke around the shelves amongst the cornucopia of stock as I wander around.