I have called in here a few times in the last year. Each time I wonder how much longer it can stay…read moreafloat. It still has a Primark and a Dunnes stores and I guess if they go it's dead. I remember a thriving food hall here with 6 or 7 purveyors when Harry Ramsden's deservedly did a roaring trade and I was a fan. No more, it's down to just one; a BurgerKing that opens at noon. It had M&S food and a cafe but not now. Our world is changing and not for the better. It's a harder world and shopping malls like this one reflect what's hidden in plain sight - increased poverty, cuts after cuts killing people, killing trade, shutting shops, putting folk out of work, who for the most part are the working poor. It's political ideology behind it for the most part - nutters who wanted brexit ironically the richest and the poorest; the former know they will make shed loads more money atop what they already have amassed with no threat to pay fair tax and the latter in the vain hope they'll escape their grinding poverty caused by 15 years of frozen wages, diminished services and the transfer of manufacturing overseas. They have no chance. The working poor will start to realise they were lied to but rising fuel and food will leave them still more desperate every day and there's nothing they can do. Half empty shopping malls will become three quarters empty in the next few months, recession will hit hard as hell. It's not that there's no money about as there more of it than ever it's just that the richest are not passing as many crumbs to the poor as they used to. And politicians don't do real politics any more - they talk and they lie and steal all round them while high streets will become wastelands.

Bow Street Mall...it's a mall (shopping centre to you and I) and it's in Bow Street. Clever, eh? At…read moreleast there's no chance of you forgetting where it's located... In all seriousness, Bow Street Mall is probably one my favourite shopping centres. Here's why... 1) It has sixty shops. Sixty! I reckon that's pretty impressive for a central shopping centre. It's not just the number which is impressive, either. The range of stores, including Primark, Tempest, Dunnes Stores, Dorothy Perkins, TK Maxx and Hanna and Browne, is equally impressive, considering most of these are fairly huge. And it's all under one roof! 2) The food court is consistently busy, and offers the likes of Burger King, KFC, O'Briens, Shanghai Express, Harry Ramsden's and Barnams. Located on the first floor, the food court is the only part of the mall which is not on the ground floor. Yes, I rather like this mall on Bow Street. Innovative name and all...

Dunelm Mill is the hot pot for everything frilly and fancy for furniture and clothing. It combines…read moreall types of materials for those creative types to make into curtains, bedspreads, table cloths or clothes! I recently purchased material to create my own unique range of scarves which I attached to bags, items of clothing and bedroom furniture. The material was quite inexpensive and easily saved me money if I had of went and bought the items from a shop. The store on Boucher Road is pretty large so if you have an idea of what you're looking for hold onto it, as you could easily get distracted you look for it among satin and cotton . Staff at the store are very helpful and can give you advice on what material to choose for different purposes, what measurements you will need as well as what colour schemes work the best.

This retail park doesn't have as many clothing shops as others on the Boucher Road (see my review…read moreon Boucher crescent retail park), and has more sort of practical/big item shops. Here you'll find a few expensive furniture shops, such as Harvey's. It also has a Smyth's toy store, Homebase, Carpetright, Dunelm Mill,... you get the idea. Shane retail park is just a few minutes' drive from Boucher Crescent retail park and has a lot of parking.

Go past the 18th century Georgian style Courthouse in Hillsborough's top of the town square and…read moredrive down park lane, at the end turn left. There is a car park which is always fairly busy. There is a path right the way around the beautiful lake. there are lots of swans, Geese and Ducks. The path leads you around the outskirts of Hillsborough forest it is 2.1k and there are paths through the forest if you want a longer walk. Lots of people walking their dogs around the lake. There are a few benches around, if you need to sit to admire the scenery. The pathway is flat enough to push a buggy around. This place really is a must, if you are in the area. You will also pass the old fort, which is only open now and then.

This forest park is right on the edge of Hillsborough village. Theres a beautiful tranquil lake…read moresurrounded by a foresty area with two waymarked trails. Its a great spot for a jog, walking the dog or just lying on the grass catching some rays. Theres normally swans and ducks in the lakes being well fed by visitors. The park has lots of parking space and a nice little area with picnic tables. On sunny days you'll normally find an ice cream van positioned in the car park. If not its just a short stroll into Hillsborough where there's lots of cafes, bars, restaurants & a few shops.

The main Post Office has recently moved its premises to this part of town. The inside has been…read morerenovated and though operational looks like more work is in the pipeline. When you come in through the doors you have to walk down a long expanse of empty space to get to the actual counters. The staff seem pleasant enough and any queues move along quite swiftly. The only complaints I would have about it are the annoying placed scaffolding situated just outside the front door, (been there for months without any sign of work being done) and the fact that in the new location parking is further away

The most office has now moved to the central area of the town but is now out of the way of the main…read moreshopping area. The post office looks lovely and fresh as it was recently renovated before the move and the services that are provided are good. The staff are nice but this is usually a very busy post office and therefore sometimes i feel my transaction is being rushed. Rarely visit now as it is a bit out of the way but still a good post office.