I was in Carmarthen today. In Narberth members of the Welsh Assembly'sbusiness and enterprise committee are doing a survey. What makes Narberth's cash registers jingle all year round is what they're after. They've already had 'compelling evidence', whatever that means, says Nick Ramsey, AM.

I'm thinking of shops bursting with delicacieslike crumb-crusted deep fried prize winning duck eggs from Hayscastle, Llangloffan award winning hand-made cheeses, 'Calon Lan' organic milk and I've told you umpteen times about everything else: antiques, gorgeous dress shops, glass grapes, ticking cushion covers, hand made cards, Iles- de- Rey type watering cans so you can play at being a peasant a la Marie-Antoinette in her shepherdess outfits and then there is art to make your house look as though youare a person of refinement with exquisite taste anda patron of the arts, rolled into one.

But 'Twsh'to all that: I am too much of a Romantic (note the use of the Capital and think Lord Byron, Keats, the sighs of the 'Lady of Shallot')to think of rateable values and their affects on businesses, (though one of my favourite businesses: Andrew Squire aka the 'Country Squire', objets d'art and whatnots hand delivered to your residence, at a time to suit your convenience,on a Sunday afternoon when the proprietor is on his way toreplenishhis larder for the coming week, hasclosed due to increasing rates and there's the rub, aye).

So, I shall leave the AM's to scratch their own brains and return to my trip to Carmarthen.The car parks were full, but not too full and not too pricey and I had a few happy hours bobbing in and out of shops. Iheaded to King Street and straight into an antiques shop.

Emmawants more old cutlery and I had seen some dessert spoons in a velvet lined box the week before.They were still there and the price was dropped from sixteen pounds to fifteenbecause I've bought there previously. I also bought a fifties cushion cover (five pounds) to embroider and a shopping bag, another five pounds.

I could havebought a loaf of spelt bread in a delicatessen lower down the street, or a quiche, but not today.

Instead I went into acharity shop and bought three 'crinoline lady' cups and saucers and a tray cloth. Next,some grapes in M@S and then my mother and I enjoyed sausage and chipsin the Ivy Bush, where the staff are as good as the food.

The old Carmathen market was claimed to be best antiques market in South and West Wales. I bought an 'Alice in Wonderland' from 'Snooks's' stall when I was young and I used to view the Christmas fowls each year, bedizened and caparisoned in parsley and sage wreaths, surrounded by onions glistening like giant pearl necklaces.

I will admit the new market in Carmarthen does nor resemble the old in any way but the old market, opening only twice a week,never made economic use of the facility.Many people taking part in Welsh language programmes claimed that the closure of the market would change the ethos of a countrytown. Carmarthen has always enjoyed alow unemployment rate and, with the new shopping centre, it hasmoved into the C21th.

Walking around the town today, seeing all the big multiples, Ithought of Emma's comment:'Art for art's sake; money for God's sake'.