The Diary of a Bookseller

TUESDAY, 17 JUNE

Online orders: 2

Books found: 2

Laurie was in again today, which turned into a balmy, sunny day after an unpromising start. Both of the online book orders today were AbeBooks, no Amazon, which is extremely unusual. I set her to work packaging the books for the Random Book Club’s June mail-out. We are back up to about 140 members. She stamped them and processed them through the Royal Mail web site. The cost of postage this month was £244.12. I have alerted Wilma, and she will send the postman around tomorrow to pick up the five sacks.

As it was a pleasant day, I spent much of it working in the garden. By mid-afternoon it was too hot, so Anna and I went to the beach at Garlieston and had a swim in the sea.

When I was locking up the shop, the telephone rang. It was a local woman who had books to sell, mostly Folio Society:

‘You’ll have to come to my house to view them, I am housebound.’

‘How would next Tuesday suit?’

‘As long as it’s not in the morning, the nurse comes on Tuesday morning to dress a wound on my leg. It’s terrible. Weeping sore, had it for years. Oozes the most disgusting pus.’

I have arranged to visit her on the afternoon of the 24th.

Till total £237.49

17 customers