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Hey!
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Hey!
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Some people are waiting on your shop to open!
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(Yes it's the special late-night opening)
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(I hope I'm not late)
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(yes please come in)
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(just let me look at this)
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(yes they're all different, just pick the one you prefer)
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(thank you so much for your visit)
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Good evening,
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and welcome to the Middle-Earth artisan shop.
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Please make yourself comfortable,
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I've just made myself a cup of tea.
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Would you like some?
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It is the special Rivendell blend,
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with honeysuckle, rose
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and bergamot.
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Alright, please feel free
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to take a first look around in the meantime,
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I will be right back.
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And here is your cup,
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it's a bit hot.
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Have you been here before?
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Not sure?
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Well here we sell Middle-Earth themed items
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all handcrafted by artists
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and made of natural materials.
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ANd most of them you will barely find
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anywhere else, so you can consider this place
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as some kind of treasure chest.
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So what brings you here?
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So you are kind of planning
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a thematic week-end with
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a couple of friends, that's it?
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So enjoying tavern-styled meals,
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watching the Lord of the Rings movies at night,
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and listening to some of Enya's music, perhaps?
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Well, you know how to live.
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So I'm here to guide you
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and help you find the perfect items
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to make your immersive week-end memorable.
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Let's look at this in order.
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First of all, you might want to set the atmosphere.
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So I would suggest a few wall decorations
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or even just one
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and maybe some candles.
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You can never go wrong with candles.
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Let's start with that if you'd like.
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I have a full collection
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of wonderfully scented candles.
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Is there any scent you particularly like?
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Alright, I will show you my favourites.
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And here are 3 options.
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One,
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two,
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and three.
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First one: a ride through Rohan.
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This one smells like you're travelling
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through wild grassy plains
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along with the famous horse masters.
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There are accents of musk, sandalwood
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and fresh grass.
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Close your eyes,
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and you'll find yourself
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riding a beautiful stallion on a sunny day
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looking for your next adventure.
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Another one:
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Under the party tree.
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I really like this one.
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It smells like you're having a good time
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with good food and good music
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with your hobbit friends.
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With notes of pipe tobacco,
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apple and bourbon,
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which is a very rich and interesting fragrance,
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quite uncommon.
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And finally, here is a more original one:
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Doriath memories.
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With this one you'll take a long
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and peaceful walk under majestic trees.
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And if you close your eyes hard enough
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you might meet an elf or two.
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This one smells of cedar, cashmere wood
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and cherry.
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With very earthy and yet quite light scents.
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These two?
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Great choice.
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And now would you like to consider
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some art for your walls?
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I have so many prints here
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from the most talented artists.
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Some are world-renowned but some
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are more in a niche
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but really deserve to be known.
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What kind of art do you usually
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like or hang in your home?
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Traditional paintings, sketches,
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computer graphics, tapestries?
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I see.
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And what is your favourite land
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or place in Middle-Earth?
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Alright, come on this side of the counter
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you'll take a look with me.
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So here I have many displayed versions,
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we have all of them
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in brand new condition right here.
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So...
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Oh let me show you this one
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we received a few days ago.
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"The doors of Hobbiton".
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These were drawn by Daniel Falconer
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who actually worked
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on the Peter Jackson's movies.
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It includes about 14 different hobbits doors,
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each one with its own features
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and character.
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With a very cottagecore feeling.
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It's lovely, isn't it?
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I can also suggest something more classic,
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from John Howe,
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who is one of the concept artists of the movies
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but who has been illustrating Tolkien's books
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since the late 70s.
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For example...
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"Ulmo, lord of waters",
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featuring the mighty king of the sea.
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This painting was initially made
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for a book cover
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but I find it really interesting
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because the rather simple composition
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just makes the character stand out
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even more.
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Alright, what else?
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Oh I have fallen for this one.
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This is a print of original art
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made by a very talented calligrapher
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featuring one of Tolkien's
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many famous quotations
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with a very charming design.
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And it's printed on the most beautiful paper.
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Are there any of these you like?
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The calligraphy one?
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We have 2 others, which one?
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Very good choice, let me find it.
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Next, let's talk about food.
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Have you planned any
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specific meals for your special week-end?
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What about hobbit food?
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I have a few simple hobbit's recipes
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which look like they came straight
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from Middle-Earth.
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Would you like to have a look at them?
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Good.
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What about these?
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Potatoe stew,
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great to use potatoes and leftover veggies.
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Roasted mushrooms.
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Wild mushrooms are always the best.
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And dwaling apple pie.
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It sounds so comforting right?
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Hobbits know their way
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when it comes to food.
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And later, you can also frame these
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for your walls.
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Now, would you like a piece
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of hobbitish crockery to go with your meals?
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We have very fine handcrafted
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mugs and plates
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which even Bilbo himself
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would love to have in his kitchen.
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Yes a mug is always good
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to have at hand for any occasion.
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Which color do you like?
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We have deep blue
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with the white tree of Gondor,
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or the One Ring quote.
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Something more earthy.
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Or two-tones, with a rounder shape.
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Tell me.
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This one here?
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Oh yes this one is my favourite as well.
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It is made by hand of course
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so each piece is slightly different
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from the others.
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Just be sure to wash it by hand
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so you can keep it
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for a very long time.
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It's the perfect piece
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for a good cup of tea
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or something a little bit stronger.
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Now you have:
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a wall art print,
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candles,
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recipes,
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something to drink
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a comforting beverage in.
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Is there anything else
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you'd like to consider for your special week-end?
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Middle-Earth clothing?
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But not too expensive, I understand.
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What I would suggest in that case
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would be just an accessory.
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Something you could wear
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during your week-end but also
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in your daily life.
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Like a bag, gloves, or a scarf.
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Yes it is still a bit chilly these days.
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Let me show you something beautiful.
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So,
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this is the exact Replica
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of Gandalf the Grey's scarf
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as seen in the Hobbit movies.
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This is made of the finest New-Zealand wool
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traditionally woven directly on one
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of the oldest looms in the country
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dating back to the end of the 19th century.
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It is a little bit shiny
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because, that is the secret,
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there are some tiny bits of mithril in it.
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But you will not find a softer fabric
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in the whole world.
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It will last a lifetime if not many.
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Would you like to try it on?
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Let me help you.
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And here we go.
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Yes you can perfectly wear it
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while watching the movies.
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It's a little bit like wearing a scarf
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from our favourite team
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while watching a sport game.
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Yes, this softness is quite uncommon.
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How does it feel?
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Good, let me take it.
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I'm going to wrap it
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with the other items you've chosen.
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Feel free to see if anything else
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catches your eye
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while I'm taking care of these.
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Everything is here.
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Now let me prepare your bill.
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I'm going to ask you
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for some information.
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So, your name please?
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Your address?
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And now, just let me offer you
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a little something
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just to thank you for your visit.
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This is the Shire tea blend,
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to enjoy with your hobbit cup.
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It's mainly composed of
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blackberry leaves,
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lemon balm,
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rose hips
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and marigold flowers.
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It has a very refreshing taste
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and it will take you on a journey
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through green rolling hills
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and along peaceful brooks.
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Every time you enjoy a cup of this tea
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you will remember how good life can be
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when we focus on simple pleasures.
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This is for you.
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Thank you so much for your visit
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and have a wonderful evening.
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Namárië (goodbye).