Madam, – In a large department store on Grafton Street, I explained to the assistant that, as it was my birthday, my wife had offered to buy me a new pair of shoes.
“And how old are you today?” she asked, kindly. My proud response, “92”, elicited an excited shriek, followed by a polite invitation to “hold on” while she consulted her manager. Five minutes later, I was given, free of charge, my chosen footwear.
The recession is sorely biting. But such a generous “concession” to a total stranger augurs well for the future of the State! – Yours, etc,