I have recently covered how ideologically opposed I am to Kildare Village (outlet shopping) in principle while being strangely attracted to it in practice.
When we went down to the wedding in East Cork a couple of weeks ago, we stopped off for breakfast in the Pain Quotidien in Kildare Village which I loved. Mr. Waffle was distinctly less impressed as he sipped from his bowl of weak tea. “It’s all very well abroad,” said he, “but I am in Kildare and it seems outrageous to be drinking this kind of tea when I know that everywhere around me perfectly good, normal tea is available.” I left him to brood over his tea while I went for a quick run around the shops. I bought some Penhaligon Bluebell perfume which my father used to bring from London to my mother. When I met my sister that evening, I said, “Smell this!” and held up my wrist and she instantly recognised it. I’m wearing it all the time now although I do seem to be mildly allergic to it and it makes me sneeze which I concede is sub-optimal. Like my relationship with Kildare Village.
Did I mention it has a Villeroy and Bosch shop? I love Villeroy and Bosch.
They also have Zwilling J.A. Henckels which brand name make me think vaguely of the Reformation somehow. They appear to be trying to edge into the Alessi knickknack market a little bit.
Anyhow well done on your NaNoBloMo, you have a fine turn of phrase and it is a pleasure when I am, say, on hold for something in work, to click through and enjoy one of these vignettes.
Eimear, do not put further temptation in my way. Thanks for kind comments on blogging, though.
Pedant alert. It’s Villeroy and Boch. Pronounced Bock, so I’m told.
Yes, I knew it was Boch but made a mistake, have to say I thought it was pronounced like the German manufacturer. It’s Luxembourgish though, isn’t it? Look at them, keeping me on my toes.
I always said Bosch too, until I was told otherwise. Now I try to avoid talking about it. I think it is Luxembourgisch. On my only visit to to Grand Duchy, there was tonnes of it for sale in a street market there.
I am very bitter as I have visited Luxembourg several times and never seen a street market. Little did I know what treasures were available.