The Diary of a Bookseller

FRIDAY, 24 OCTOBER

Online orders: 2

Books found: 1

Nicky arrived with a substance that bore no resemblance to food. ‘Chocolate éclairs. Delicious.’ And so began another Foodie Friday.

At 9.15 a.m. I was about to head off to County Durham to look at the theology library when she remembered to tell me that the minister had telephoned on Wednesday to say that he had already sold them to another dealer.

Diana, Anna’s friend, emailed to say that Eva, her fourteen-year-old daughter, will be arriving in Dumfries on Monday afternoon for a week’s work experience. I had completely forgotten that I had agreed to take her on for the week, but I remember her being a very charming girl, so hopefully it will work out well.

A customer asked me if I could help her find Christmas presents for her four daughters, but she couldn’t tell me what they were interested in or what her budget was, and since I have never met her children I had no idea what to suggest, although I was extremely grateful that she had decided to buy their Christmas presents in a second-hand bookshop. I recommended Philip Pullman and C. S. Lewis, both of whose works seem to have a broad appeal.

There has been a noticeable decrease in the numbers of people asking for bags, although English customers often look quite affronted when asked for 5p. I suspect that they are unaware that it is now a legal requirement and think they are being fleeced by greedy Scots.

A retired teacher from the nearby seaside village of Garlieston dropped in a few boxes of books, mainly book club fiction in poor condition, but I found a handful of interesting equestrian books on trap racing and gave him £20 for them.

Finished Kidnapped. It was a relatively early edition in a pictorial binding, so I put it back on the shelf. It is a title that always sells quickly.

Till total £149.39

16 customers