Well, dearest reader, an exciting day was had by all today. Hubby and I set out on an intrepid journey to visit another country! I can tell you’re both intrigued and impressed so I’ll let you down gently and tell you that it was only Northern Ireland. Still, another country it certainly is, and one which I’ve not visited before. And jolly nice it was too.

So our international expedition all started this morning, when Hubby mentioned that he’d heard rumour of a fantastic, new and unfeasibly large Tesco opening up in Enniskillen. ‘Ahh, Tesco Extra’, says I nostalgically. What I’d give to have a Christmas rummage round an impossibly large Tesco, with proper prices in sterling and everything. ‘Well then’, says Hubby, ‘let’s go’. We’re like that sometimes: devil may care and spur of the moment. So off we went.

I have to say it’s a big bloody anticlimax, as there’s no ‘border’ or Welcome To Northern Ireland sign or anything. Slowly and sneakily, the road signs change, there are less huge pot-holes in the road and the petrol becomes incredibly expensive, and that’s your clue that you’ve arrived. In the same time it takes me to get down to the unfeasibly large shopping centre, we arrived in Enniskillen. It’s a delightful place, though, with castley sort of ramparts by a lovely river, and loads of really nice shops. We spent a happy afternoon bumbling round Tesco, filling two trolleys with wine, champagne and beer, all scandalously cheaper than here in the south. Hubby thought the whole thing was rather entertaining, especially my excitement at my first trip to the north (and my rather girlish squeaking at getting pounds…POUNDS!!.. out of the cash machine). Well, I don’t get out much. I’d thoroughly recommend it, though, and I might be tempted to go back again and explore some more. Imagine, a whole new country just an hour away. I’m spoilt, me.

No Comments »