20th April, 2000
Now that Sunday has become like every other day,
a lot of people spend their Sunday afternoon visiting shopping
centres, D.I.Y stores, garden centres. Last Sunday I decided to
take a trip to the City Centre to check out a Music and Book Shop
called Vibes & Scribes. We have a couple of good music stores
in Douglas, Blacktrack in Douglas Court and Laser Discs in
Douglas Village shopping centre, not forgetting Book Deal on
Tranway Terrace, where one could pick up some interesting L.P's (for
younger readers L.P means Long Playing) Anyway, I've been a
shopper at Vibes & Scribes since it opened. Shortly after
opening they introduced a type of loyalty card. One had the card
filled in with the amount spent, signed by the shop assistant and
when over a period of time it reached a £100 the customer got a
free £10 book. I had the sum of £88 on my card, so on Sunday I
spent £13 to bring my total to £101. The assistant in the music
department filled in the sum and initialled it. I then went to
the book department picked up a book and brought it to the girl
at the checkout register. I produced the loyalty card to be told
that's been finished since 1997! Hold on I said, I bought C.D's
here before Christmas, the amount was filled in on the card,
which was signed. I was getting nowhere “Can I speak to
someone in charge” I asked “There's nobody here in
charge” she replied “Look” I said, “I was
upstairs five minutes ago, the man filled in my card and
initialled it, and he did not tell me it was finished”. She
did not want to know, so before I left Vibes & Scribes in
Bridge Street, I told the assistant I would give them a mention
in the Douglas Weekly, needless to say I shall never again shop
in Vibes & Scribes. Because the treatment they gave to a
customer who supported them from the beginning.
Contrast that with this. I bought a box of fax rolls from O'Leary
Office Supplies on the Kinsale Road. I brought them back to the
office, opened the box, unwrapped a roll but it was the wrong
type. I rang O'Leary's explained what had happened “No
Problem” said a charming voice on the phone. Today I
collected the correct rolls, when I walked in a smile greeted me
from both girls, a box of rolls was on the counter. I thanked
them and left. My faith in sales staff had been restored, 100%
marks to O'Leary's Office Supplies.
Part two of the Patrick Gallagher appeared last Sunday in the
Independent. The interviewer travelled to South Afica to
interview him (How's about a swop? South Africa can keep Paddy if
we can have Nelson Mandella) and told us that Paddy is the only
member of Ireland's powerful and wealthy elite who have been
jailed for “White collar misdemeanours” However he was
sentenced and imprisoned in Northern Ireland. In the Republic
last year six men went to jail for Dole Fraud, Paddy never spent
a day in an Irish jail. On the same page as the interview is on
another writer profiled Paddy. He tells us that Paddy admitted
stealing £120,000, and was jailed in Northern Ireland. He also
tells us that investigations in Dublin had revealed
irregularities and false records. Paddy also tells us that C.J.
Haughey achieved an incredible amount in a short space of time,
Paddy, I'm sure we would all agree with you there. Good news for
all music lovers, Paddy is forming his own band and intends to
tour the world shortly. I'm sure a lot of small investors lost
their savings would love to see Paddy perform live in Dublin, I'd
say he'd bring the bank (Oops, I meant the house) down!!
As I'm writing this piece it is Tuesday night 11.55pm. There was
a public meeting held tonight in a local hotel to discuss housing
refugees in Havisham House Hotel on the Rochestown Road. During
the past week I have heard so many different opinions on the
matter. One man told me that he lived quite close to the hotel
and that his wife was often on her own. He asked me would I like
to live opposite a dump! I reminded him that we were talking
about human beings, men women and children. (Ask the residents of
Palace Ann Lawn about living next to a dump) The next person I
spoke to puts all the blame on the Russian Mafia, who says are
shipping them over in their thousands. Today I met a man who
wants to organise a welcoming party for the refugees, and supply
them with traditional brown bread. Another caller told us that
there is an empty convent in the Northside. So there you are
different views on the same subject.
Finally as we approach one of the most important days on the
Christian calendar perhaps we should reflect on what the word
Christian means. My five year old granddaughter sums up
Christianity when she says “Sharing is Caring” Happy
Easter.
Happy Birthday to Anne Marie Campbell, enjoy your day off !!
Bye for now,
Michael O'Hanlon.
