This picture has nothing whatsoever to do with the following post but appeals to my sense of humour.
The other evening I went down to the Falmouth Bookseller, our very own independent bookshop, to support Jo Thomas, a fellow writer who was doing a book signing for her excellent book, “Lost Cornwall,” all about Cornwall’s heritage.
It was one of those cold, wet, windy nights when you’d rather be sitting inside with a glass of wine looking out on the weather, but I drove off to find a road block at the top of the High Street. Never mind, I thought, I’ll go another way.
I drove right round the town, got down onto the Moor and found another road block. Policemen. Crowds of people. What the hell was going on? By this time my temper was not improving and I very nearly went straight home. I could hardly see out of the windscreen, it was raining so hard.
Finally I got down to the car park behind the bookshop and found the last space (hah!) and found you had to pay £1.10 minimum charge. Dear God… But I did.
When I finally got there, Jo was sitting with a pile of books and we had a long chat. Furthermore, I had a very good glass of red wine while we talked. I could even have had a mince pie but I don’t like them – they make my teeth squeak with their saccharine sweetness.
I apologised for being late and moaned about the traffic and was told that it was the first night of late night shopping and the Christmas Lights were being turned on, hence all the crowds and policemen.
I cheered up then (half way through my glass of wine) and watched a procession of children with Christmas lanterns and almost started to feel festive. (This is someone who is allergic to Christmas and realised, with a jolt this morning, that I haven’t bought a single card or present.)
I guess there’s a motto in here somewhere – about persevering and getting your just rewards and all that. In this instance, I was more than happy to settle for a good chat with a fellow writer and a glass of (very nice) red wine.
And, of course, Jo’s book which I got for Mum for Christmas. So I have got a present after all.
16 comments:
oh my gosh, are those eggplants??
good for you for persevering. i might have turned back, given the conditions. but you stuck to it, and look what you found: a lovely evening, children's joy with lanterns, nice wine, a christmas present.
maybe a little christmas cheer will rub off on you?
i agree with people who say christmas is too commercial, too forced, and too stressful. yet i can't help loving it nonetheless.
a fun picture FP.
I forgot it was the turning on of the lights yesterday, I would have gone had I known. there's always something cheering about it.
I bet you were glad that you perservered with going to the booksigning.
RT
laurie - yes they are eggplants - so clever I thought. I'm glad you enjoy Christmas - if I concentrate perhaps some cheer will rub off on me!
RT - the turning on was last Thursday. I'm a bit behind in my reporting!
oh...well I thought it was unusual to be on a Monday, I just figured they'd changed days! A good report, nonetheless.
Perhaps we should make a note for next year! Think I may have found another member for our writing group....
Sounds like a really nice evening and well worth the effort of getting there:-)
Those aubergines are brilliant!
Well done for persevering. So when are you going Christmas shopping? That reminds me I still have to wrap mine! :0
lane - I think they're amazing - and there are more pictures!
Ak - I never do my shopping until the last minute. So I will be doing it in about 3 weeks time!
What a lovely occasion, to share your friend's special book signing, enjoy a glass of wine and buy a pressie too. I hope it sells well. I've been asked to promote a book about sex trafficking with personal accounts from victims forced into it. Any idea how to go about it?
ellee - that's a tough one. Local radio I guess, local TV? Local bookshop? Where is the author based? Local Waterstone's might do a booksigning? Can you tie it in with some occasion? Write a piece for the nationals/local paper? It's a topical thing isn't it? That should help.
It sounds like you had a lovely evening ...nice and warm in a book shop (what better place to be?) with a good friend and a glass of something nice. That'll be you sitting there one day, FP...signing those books. And perhaps I'll buy a copy for myself...and bring a bottle!
I love the idea of Christmas and have had some good times in the past but now my Christmases are all about the children. I'm so disorganised that no-one expects a card from me but I start thinking about the childrens presents in about september! Everyone gets bought something in december and yes, I too love a good bookshop :-)
As for writing I've just written a long post and blogspot gave up on me. Perseverence? ARGH!
Love the picture. And see? You can scratch a gift off your list, after all.
Efficiency,a good book and a glass of red. Aahhh...
Oh they are so funny!!
FP, you've been tagged on my blog!
MissU - yes I sincerely hope it will be me one day - and of course you must all come. Wine, mincepies and books...
Philipa - yes that's happened to me. You can imagine the language!
rc - you are an optimist! Yes, not that I have a gift list, but if I had I would scratch one off!
aoj - thanks I'll go and take a look...
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