The Diary of a Bookseller

MONDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER

Online orders: 5

Books found: 5

Nicky couldn’t come in today, so I emailed Bethan and told her that she was welcome to work if she was free.

Our Amazon rating has dropped from Good to Fair, probably due to unfulfilled orders. Of today’s orders, one was sent to Belgium and another to Germany. This usually happens when sterling is weak, which it is at the moment, in part – so the anti-independence campaigners say – due to uncertainty caused by the referendum on Thursday.

Bethan turned up at about 1 p.m. I showed her around the shop and started her on tidying shelves, which has the twin benefits of making the shop look smarter and teaching her where the various sections are in the shop.

Shortly after Bethan arrived, Anupa, one of the festival artists in residence, dropped in for a cup of tea. I was desperately trying to catch up with a backlog of jobs, but we chatted for an hour or so anyway. We discussed Thursday’s vote, and the possibility that when we next meet, in a week or so, it might be in an independent Scotland. If nothing else, at least the co-op will be open again.

A shuffling old man with a beard asked for books on ‘Cumbriana and Northumbriana’, further fuelling my dislike of people who try to make themselves sound more intelligent by using unnecessary words. Philately will get you nowhere in The Book Shop. A few minutes later he returned, unable to find the topography section, and asked ‘Where’s Northumbria?’ Resisted the urge to tell him that it is just south of Scotland. His wife came to the counter with seven books on Northumbria, including a mint first edition Highways and Byways. The total was £27. He looked at the floor and mumbled, ‘What’s your best price?’

Till total £211.17

28 customers