DO NOT WANT!

On the same day of the previous post about Ballincollig, I paid a visit to one of my favorite shops in Cork: "Quality & Value", which is located near the old Aldi just past the cinema. I look kooky places like this, full of old knick-knacks and half price nothings. I'm a big fan of cheap DVD's and if you're quick you can get yourself a copy of "Alien Intruder" for only €1.99! Everyone needs a copy Alien Intruder in their DVD collection.

Anyway, I was having a browse around when I came across a pile of boxes with an "Entire Camping Kit" inside. The box promised you'd fit a tent, a sleeping bag and re-hydration backpack bladder thing, all inside the rucksack that was also included in the box. Sounds magical right? Well you can see just how magical all on your own for only €19.99. I was more interested in the boxes themselves though. They were all a bit tattered and looked of dubious origin. On closer inspection I spotted the follow:



In case you're in a state of confusion, that red thing stuck to the box is Christmas wrapping paper! Now I can reasonably understand a single box having been an unwanted gift, but 20 to 30 of them!? Where did they all come from; what sordid part were they mean't to play in the Christmas act of gift giving?

Here's what I think happened: an ailing small business somewhere in the midlands was suffering some "bad economics" coming up to Christmas and decided to replace the unaffordable Christmas wage bonus with cheap and tacky camping kits. The Company folds before they could be handed out and Q&V buy these off the liquidator at a fair price. They now reside at the back of the store with a €19.99 sticker on them. I wish I was joking, but it's probably true!