Ireland of the welcomes

It looks like everybody is feeling to varying degrees the effects of the economic downturn. For those who are really badly affected we have to have a lot of sympathy. The elderly who spent so many years trying to put a little away for the rainy day must be very high on the list. Also people who were saving so that someone who was dependent on them might have a certain amount of protection when they passed on. Those of us who have to begin to learn how to live without the luxuries we had become used to are not too badly off at all. If we look at it more closely there is an opportunity there for us now that can be a blessing in disguise. In Ireland in bygone days there was such a thing a as neighborhood and people looked out for one another. They did their best to support those who were less fortunate than themselves and i am sure that in many areas in the USA it was no different. Maybe now is a time when we can once again become more conscious of what we might be able to do for those around us, especially the older generation who live alone and have nobody and are too proud to ask for help. I live in a rural area and it still retains a lot of the old style neighborliness and i am never short of a helping hand if i need it. I have not always lived here but having moved here from a city it was something i recognised and appreciated from the begining. I have good neighbors. City life has changed from my youth. There was a time when if you walked down the centre of my town you knew everybody, or at least you knew somebody belonging to them. Nowadays i would not know anybody in the same town. People do not know their own neighbors nor do they want to know. There is so much rented accomodation now and people keep coming and going and you never know who is next door to you. There is an element of fear involved in getting too close to people.It seems to be easier and safer to keep to yourself. That does not mean that we should not be alert to what may be going on around us and maybe be ready if an opportunity presents itself where we can help somebody. The rewards are great.
Despite the general feeling of gloom that hangs over our world right now there is light at the end of the tunnel. I have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of enquiries i am still getting and my bookings are good. I am also noticing just how welcome i am being made to feel when i am contacting hotels etc here to make reservations for my tours. All of a sudden people are grateful to be getting your business. I believe that i am going to notice this even more as i tour this year. I do not bring big busloads of people around with me but now even specialised operators like myself are getting special attention. I am fortunate that i have built up a relationship with all the people i regularly do business with and they are always most attentive to my needs. It is when i sometimes use a different restaurant or pub or hotel that i am now noticing a welcome a little more like the one that earned us the nickname "Ireland of the Welcomes". People are going to have to be more conscious of their prices and there will hopefully be better deals. The touristy shops have many great bargains on offer and i feel that as a result of this those coming to Ireland this year will be getting great value.The rip-off days are numbered and people are now becoming more aware of what they are spending. Shop around is the in thing. I refuse to buy my fuel in any filling station that is over the odds. I am the same with general shopping and there are places that offer value. People are not going to continue to pay the ridiculous prices they had to pay for a coffee or a Coke. We are growing up at last.....and do we really need that extra coffe or that extra Coke?
Now i better go and do some work or i will have nothing left to buy shares. Anybody got any tips?

Your comments are most welcome.

Dave