Madam, - When in Paris recently for a short stay, I was disappointed to find the majority of people there aloof and unhelpful. (I have since been amused to learn that my opinion of the Parisians concurs with that of the provincial French.)
Well, I'm afraid this attitude is creeping into Dublin life. For example, the time-honoured readiness of the retail trade to "break" a tenner or fiver was a much appreciated small courtesy. However, while in the Grafton Street area the other day, I happened to pop into a newsagent that is part of a well-known chain for just such a purpose, only to be told in mantra-like fashion by the assistant: "We don't give out change without a sale". - Yours, etc,
OLIVER McGRANE, Marley Avenue, Dublin 16.