The Diary of a Bookseller

MONDAY, 6 OCTOBER

Online orders: 5

Books found: 4

Nicky and Flo in. We spent the day shifting furniture and trying to get the place back to normal. Maria came in at lunchtime to sort out her stuff in the kitchen. Anna and I drove to the dump to get rid of cardboard boxes and empty wine bottles.

Nicky made herself cheese on toast for lunch and ate it in the middle of the shop, surrounded by customers.

This morning a busybody of an old man for whom I have always had an intense dislike came into the shop to try to persuade me to stock the self-published novel he has written. I am frequently presented with this sort of thing, and I take it on sale or return for purely diplomatic reasons. Without exception, one year later, I end up returning every single copy.

The big marquee came down today, leaving a pale yellow patch of grass beneath where it had stood, a reminder throughout the long winter of what had been here until it starts to green up again as the soil temperature warms up in March.

Anna and I went for supper at The Ploughman with the volunteers.

Till total £123.97

14 customers