Many ironmongers diversify well beyond nuts and bolts to attract customers. Some are renowned for their efforts. Janet sent me this story from Killinchy in County Down.
‘Killinchy Post Office is a bit of a modern day Aladdin’s Cave in the middle of County Down. As the name suggests, it serves the village’s postal needs but beyond that it caters for almost every need and even whim of the local inhabitants from wheaten bread to Christmas trees.
A few years ago I was on a course in Connecticut which was being taught by an American who asked where I was from. I started off with “Ireland”, working my way down as far as “Near Belfast” as Killinchy is not a large place and mostly is unknown even a few miles away. He persisted with his questioning, pressing me for a more precise location saying that he’d been to Ireland on vacation and wouldn’t accept my wider area descriptions. “OK”, I said, preparing my smug face, “Killinchy”. His whole face lit up: “Killinchy! Is that the place where you get the coffee AND the hardware under one roof?” I had to concede that this was in fact exactly the place and eat my slice of humble pie. They probably sell that in the Post Office come to think of it.’
In Scotland, you will find good coffee at TG Allan’s in Helensburgh and delicious homemade soup at MacKenzie & Cruickshank’s in Forres.
