…or it could be month. I suppose it depends how many really lubly shops I find. Anyhoo, if you ever venture into County Meath (or Ireland, if you’re not a local), point yourself in the direction of Navan (directions…directions…I’m rubbish at directions … follow the vaguely grubby, bedraggled ones to the Hill of Tara and go North. A lot.)

So, when you’ve found someone who knows where Navan is better than I do, get thyself to Kennedy Road, home of Gamestop (I know it well, being the mother of small boys) and SuperMacs (ditto). Right at the end, down near the Post Office is the small but perfectly formed Aladdin’s cave that is Sage and Stone. As you know, I’m a sucker for anything sparkly and was drawn, almost against my will, down Kennedy Road by the outrageously nice sparkly trees they had outside the door. Inside, I was shocked, and rather pleased, to find all manner of rather lovely things: Christmas decorations (on sale!), lovely crystal, KitchnAids (woohoo!), nice table linen, Le Creuset (mmmm, I love Le Creuset), that weird Stephen Pearce pottery stuff that I don’t get at all, but is very trendy, and all manner of weird and wonderful kitchen wizardry. Upstairs, they’ve even got furniture and some gorgeous bedlinen. It was all I could do not to drool.

Things being a little tight just after Chrimbo, I’d promised Hubby I’d be a good girl, but still came out clutching the most adorable pink silicone whisk, and a rather natty pink fish slice thingy with a stainless steel handle (loses a bit in translation, but you get the picture). But do you know what I liked best about the whole place? The lovely smiley lady who was pottering about in the shop singing along to the Christmas music, who took the time to chat happily with me while I paid for my pathetically small purchases. And you just wait, when I’m flush again I’ll be hightailing it back there to part with more cash. The smiley lady deserves it.

http://www.sageandstone.com