I've not mentioned sport on the blog for a while, so please allow me to indulge myself for a moment.
The Tour De France has been going for a couple of weeks now, and today (stage 15) is the stage that I predict that things are going to get very interesting. Big mountains men that the really strong riders will start to assert themselves.
I love that Lance Armstrong is back in the Tour, but I still reckon Carlos Sastre, my winning prediction last year, is going to do something amazing. Contador is the big favourite, and he showed he has the beating of Lance, but at 50/1 Sastre is well worth a pop.
The Open Golf is on too, and Tom Watson, at 59 years old, is leading he tournament going into the final round. It would be incredible if he won, but I suspect that Retief Goosen will do the business.
And apparently we now know how to play cricket as well. Can we snatch a draw from the jaws of victory. I wouldn't be at all surprised.
That's all the sports new, now back to the studio.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Not Trumps
I had this idea once of combining Top Trumps, authors and boxing commentary. This is the result.
She's short, bit nippy, and pound for pound she's going to be a tough opponent. But what's next for this class act? Whatever it is, you don't want to mess with 'The Great from Yate'.
She's short, bit nippy, and pound for pound she's going to be a tough opponent. But what's next for this class act? Whatever it is, you don't want to mess with 'The Great from Yate'.. 
He's a big man, but he's out of shape. A Victorian heavyweight, who knocked 'em out at an alarming weight. He could do with a bit of TV to get him back up with the big guns. LARGE!
Local boy, done good. He's a wiry, tough individual who's on the up. This post Will Self destruct in 5 seconds.
What can we say about this boy that hasn't already been said. He's tasty. He done his time in the trenches, and he's quicker than he looks.
A powerhouse, and that's a fact. Is he just a one hit wonder though. The lads got class, i'll give him that. Collossal.
No relation of Linford, she lacks real pace. She's been around the block though, with over 80 memorable knockouts. She hasn't lost her Marples yet, either.
You can't dismiss him, he's got the minerals. The TV work's been kind to him, and he's still a big draw. Got to be respected.
This boy, he's got it all. He's rangy, light on his feet...they even named a day after him. He's sure to go down as one the Greatest.But will it be Dahlly, Champion of the World?
It's a shocker he's not more famous, and his loyal fans would be up in arms, but when push comes to shove, are his best days behind him now. Prove me wrong big guy!
A lad who likes to keep his head down. Big in the 80s, but has he got the razzle-dazzle to pull the crowds in now? A crackin' left hook. TASTY!
The big man's here and he's going nowhere. A giant, a legend, he's who the crowd have been waiting for. He rarely disappoints (Titus Andronicus was his only defeat), and only a tight codpiece might slow him down.
Give him his due, this may be a step up in class for the lad, but he more can more than hold his own. He's got pace and always gives a top notch performance. IMMENSE
Stocky, bullet headed Pratchett is fearsome. He'll take no prisoners this one. Lost a bit of pace recently, but you don't want to mess.
A big man in his day. Now look at the fella. He's nippy, a trait he picked up inside. A monkey says he'll keep bouncing back though. TASTELESS!
Ernie knows the score. He's a heavy hitter who favours the right. Liable to shoot his mouth off. Likes a tipple.
The Baker Street Baptist can face up to anyone on his day. He's no mug, and when he's on song, he'll take you apart. Tasty left.
the self proclaimed 'greatest', Ellroy knows a thing or two about the business. He's been around for a while, and still draws the crowds. A big, powerful man monster.
He's huge, he's a monster, he's immense. Thing is, will he be next year. It's early days for the glamourboy Brown, so let's just sit it out and watch from the stands.
pump up the volume, 'cos here he comes, like a sledgehammer to the cranium. Claims he's a Quiet American, but don't believe a word of it. Who can stand in the way of the Power and The Glory that is the Jolly Greene Giant.
Leo the lion. A beard the like you've never seen, this is a big old bear and he's taking no prisoners. He writes like he fights, BIG TIME.
well hello, little lady. This crackerjack never lets you down. Her rabbit punch is legendary, and although she lacks a bit of pace, if you corner her she won't go down without a fight. TIGGYWINKLE!
He's a big man, but he's out of shape. A Victorian heavyweight, who knocked 'em out at an alarming weight. He could do with a bit of TV to get him back up with the big guns. LARGE!
Local boy, done good. He's a wiry, tough individual who's on the up. This post Will Self destruct in 5 seconds.
What can we say about this boy that hasn't already been said. He's tasty. He done his time in the trenches, and he's quicker than he looks.
A powerhouse, and that's a fact. Is he just a one hit wonder though. The lads got class, i'll give him that. Collossal.
No relation of Linford, she lacks real pace. She's been around the block though, with over 80 memorable knockouts. She hasn't lost her Marples yet, either.
You can't dismiss him, he's got the minerals. The TV work's been kind to him, and he's still a big draw. Got to be respected.
This boy, he's got it all. He's rangy, light on his feet...they even named a day after him. He's sure to go down as one the Greatest.But will it be Dahlly, Champion of the World?
It's a shocker he's not more famous, and his loyal fans would be up in arms, but when push comes to shove, are his best days behind him now. Prove me wrong big guy!
A lad who likes to keep his head down. Big in the 80s, but has he got the razzle-dazzle to pull the crowds in now? A crackin' left hook. TASTY!
The big man's here and he's going nowhere. A giant, a legend, he's who the crowd have been waiting for. He rarely disappoints (Titus Andronicus was his only defeat), and only a tight codpiece might slow him down.
Give him his due, this may be a step up in class for the lad, but he more can more than hold his own. He's got pace and always gives a top notch performance. IMMENSE
Stocky, bullet headed Pratchett is fearsome. He'll take no prisoners this one. Lost a bit of pace recently, but you don't want to mess.
A big man in his day. Now look at the fella. He's nippy, a trait he picked up inside. A monkey says he'll keep bouncing back though. TASTELESS!
Ernie knows the score. He's a heavy hitter who favours the right. Liable to shoot his mouth off. Likes a tipple.
The Baker Street Baptist can face up to anyone on his day. He's no mug, and when he's on song, he'll take you apart. Tasty left.
the self proclaimed 'greatest', Ellroy knows a thing or two about the business. He's been around for a while, and still draws the crowds. A big, powerful man monster.
He's huge, he's a monster, he's immense. Thing is, will he be next year. It's early days for the glamourboy Brown, so let's just sit it out and watch from the stands.
pump up the volume, 'cos here he comes, like a sledgehammer to the cranium. Claims he's a Quiet American, but don't believe a word of it. Who can stand in the way of the Power and The Glory that is the Jolly Greene Giant.
Leo the lion. A beard the like you've never seen, this is a big old bear and he's taking no prisoners. He writes like he fights, BIG TIME.
well hello, little lady. This crackerjack never lets you down. Her rabbit punch is legendary, and although she lacks a bit of pace, if you corner her she won't go down without a fight. TIGGYWINKLE!You can now print this post out, cut out the cards and have a lovely game yourself.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Work Experience
Hi. My name is Jess Allen, I'm 15, I go to Alexandra Park School and for the past two weeks I have been doing my work experience at the Big Green Bookshop. I have helped with ordering books, Packing books, writing reviews about books and now writing on the blog. I also restocked the shop with milk. Over the two weeks I have met publishers and even the occasional author. The point of work experience is to see a glimpse of the real world, learn about the working environment, gain new skills and the best one as I see it, to get out of school two weeks before everyone else.
It has been really good. I've learnt everything I'd hoped to add a few extras.
Simon, Tim and Mark have all helped me get to grips with working in a shop and they have all been(in Simon's favourite word)lovely. If you've visited the shop recently then you may have seen me around. Perhaps the most interesting thing for me has been the choices in books. Biggest sellers, rarer buys and then the usual customers who are interested in particular genres. I couldn't tell you why I find it interesting. Honestly don't know but I've learnt a lot which is the main point.
Overall, work experience has been a great experience.
I hope you enjoy this blog,
I know I haven't provided the usual wit and humour you are used to with Simon's but I've done my best.
Thank you and I will return to the bookshop in the near future to buy books.
It has been really good. I've learnt everything I'd hoped to add a few extras.
Simon, Tim and Mark have all helped me get to grips with working in a shop and they have all been(in Simon's favourite word)lovely. If you've visited the shop recently then you may have seen me around. Perhaps the most interesting thing for me has been the choices in books. Biggest sellers, rarer buys and then the usual customers who are interested in particular genres. I couldn't tell you why I find it interesting. Honestly don't know but I've learnt a lot which is the main point.
Overall, work experience has been a great experience.
I hope you enjoy this blog,
I know I haven't provided the usual wit and humour you are used to with Simon's but I've done my best.
Thank you and I will return to the bookshop in the near future to buy books.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Oi, Gardners or Bertrams
Isbn 9781848761513.Please get some more of this book. You haven't had any for ages, and people keep asking for it. You know it makes sense.
Can I hasten to add we don't get all our books from these two goliaths of the booktrade. But this has been a real big hit (and probably would be in other shops if it was more widely available), and having it in stock at Berties and Gardners would allow us to get it a lot easier and quicker.
Is the blog mightier than the teleorder? We shall see...
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Some Nice Press for Us (because no-one else is going to tell you about it are they?
Last weekend we had a visit from RachelH from Londonist, a brilliant website that celebrates good things about London and lists events and stuff.
The upshot was this lovely article about us. That made us rather happy.
She also took some rather flattering photos (of the shop), too.
Then we opened Time Out London for Children,
Available on our website here.
On page 259 we found this
(that Crow place is well worth a visit if you're in Crystal Palace too).
Then a couple of pages later, this.
A whole page of photos from our shop!
That's me up the top reading a peekaboo book to Freya. Harry (Tim's most active son) is browsing our well stocked shelves in another photo, and there are a couple of other shots of the glorious Big Green Bookshop too. A whole page!
Lorks.
I've been adding a few more events onto our new website, and i've also put some links up on the top right of the blog for easy access.
There's so much news at the moment, so i'll try and keep you up to date over the next couple of weeks, but I think i'll be playing catch up for a little while, so bear with me.
By the way, if you want to write a (pleasant) comment on the Londonist site about us, then feel free. It keeps us on the front page if you do..
The upshot was this lovely article about us. That made us rather happy.
She also took some rather flattering photos (of the shop), too.Then we opened Time Out London for Children,
Available on our website here.On page 259 we found this
(that Crow place is well worth a visit if you're in Crystal Palace too).Then a couple of pages later, this.
A whole page of photos from our shop!That's me up the top reading a peekaboo book to Freya. Harry (Tim's most active son) is browsing our well stocked shelves in another photo, and there are a couple of other shots of the glorious Big Green Bookshop too. A whole page!
Lorks.
I've been adding a few more events onto our new website, and i've also put some links up on the top right of the blog for easy access.
There's so much news at the moment, so i'll try and keep you up to date over the next couple of weeks, but I think i'll be playing catch up for a little while, so bear with me.
By the way, if you want to write a (pleasant) comment on the Londonist site about us, then feel free. It keeps us on the front page if you do..
Saturday, July 04, 2009
That was the Week that was.
Has it really been a week? Good heavens.
OK. To sum up.
Monday, was my day with Freya and we had a right old laugh in Alexandra Park
She likes a peach.
She also likes a swing.
Tuesday was my brother's birthday. His name is Justin.
This is my brother
...this was a disastrous blind date he went on once. I think he's putting on a very brave face.
I love my brother very much, and hope that this public declaration of affection will allow me another week to get a really nice present for him.
Wednesday was the launch of Rosie Furber's new book The Most Intimate Place
.
The book launch was in Blackheath Library, which, for those of you who know London will realise, is a long long way from Wood Green. Especially if you don't travel by tube (long story, panic attack/unnatural/zombies). So I hopped onto my bicycle for the long journey south. I think it was supposed to be 13 miles there, and I guess having got lost 3 times on the way it was closer to 16. So it's ironic, after spending that long in the saddle, that it was my 'most intimate place' that was very relieved to have gotten there.
The launch was huge and the library was jammed with well wishers. Rosie is one of our most fantastic supporters and, aswell as playing the fanfare on her trumpet on our opening day, has been to lots of our events and has always answered the call if we needed her.
Here's Rosie (in red) with her husband James on the left and some of her friends.
I can't wait to get stuck into the book. Crime and sauce...what a combination!
Thursday and we welcomes Jayne Joso and Mez Packer to the shop to read from their new books.
I was really looking forward to this evening, as both the books really appealed to me. And those of us who turned up weren't let down at all. Mez and Jayne were both superb and their readings enticed pretty much everyone in the audience into buying copies of their books. You too can buy these books by clicking here for Jayne's, and here for Mez's.
Friday was my day of working from home, and I finalised our Summer Extravaganza for kids at the shop
Click on the picture and i'm sure it'll get bigger.
I also added another event to our growing list on the website.
1. Greg Stekelman, TheManWhoFellAsleep is coming to the shop on August 12th
I'm adding another 5 events over the next week, so it's worth checking back to see all the groovy stuff that's going on.
Saturday and I was at the shop by myself as Tim's youngest, fastest son Harry was celebrating his birthday. Tim, Harry and a gang of Harry's mates were donning 3D glasses to go and watch a thing at the cinema that required these kind of things. It was fairly uneventful in the shop as the Hornsey Carnival (local popular thing) was happening today, but nevertheless we did OK.
So this evening I was sitting on the balcony type thing at the back of our house with Katie, and I was savouring a lovely big old bottle of beer. The night was drawing in as I poured the last of it into my glass and I reflected on how particularly frothy it was. As it was late, we decided to go inside, and as I picked up my now almost empty glass and headed into the kitchen I noticed the reason the beer had been particularly frothy. It was the slug that had crawled into the glass at some point earlier in the evening.
You should try it.
So that was the week that was.
OK. To sum up.
Monday, was my day with Freya and we had a right old laugh in Alexandra Park
She likes a peach.
She also likes a swing. Tuesday was my brother's birthday. His name is Justin.
This is my brother
...this was a disastrous blind date he went on once. I think he's putting on a very brave face.I love my brother very much, and hope that this public declaration of affection will allow me another week to get a really nice present for him.
Wednesday was the launch of Rosie Furber's new book The Most Intimate Place
.The book launch was in Blackheath Library, which, for those of you who know London will realise, is a long long way from Wood Green. Especially if you don't travel by tube (long story, panic attack/unnatural/zombies). So I hopped onto my bicycle for the long journey south. I think it was supposed to be 13 miles there, and I guess having got lost 3 times on the way it was closer to 16. So it's ironic, after spending that long in the saddle, that it was my 'most intimate place' that was very relieved to have gotten there.
The launch was huge and the library was jammed with well wishers. Rosie is one of our most fantastic supporters and, aswell as playing the fanfare on her trumpet on our opening day, has been to lots of our events and has always answered the call if we needed her.
Here's Rosie (in red) with her husband James on the left and some of her friends.I can't wait to get stuck into the book. Crime and sauce...what a combination!
Thursday and we welcomes Jayne Joso and Mez Packer to the shop to read from their new books.
I was really looking forward to this evening, as both the books really appealed to me. And those of us who turned up weren't let down at all. Mez and Jayne were both superb and their readings enticed pretty much everyone in the audience into buying copies of their books. You too can buy these books by clicking here for Jayne's, and here for Mez's.
Friday was my day of working from home, and I finalised our Summer Extravaganza for kids at the shop
Click on the picture and i'm sure it'll get bigger.I also added another event to our growing list on the website.
1. Greg Stekelman, TheManWhoFellAsleep is coming to the shop on August 12th
I'm adding another 5 events over the next week, so it's worth checking back to see all the groovy stuff that's going on.
Saturday and I was at the shop by myself as Tim's youngest, fastest son Harry was celebrating his birthday. Tim, Harry and a gang of Harry's mates were donning 3D glasses to go and watch a thing at the cinema that required these kind of things. It was fairly uneventful in the shop as the Hornsey Carnival (local popular thing) was happening today, but nevertheless we did OK.
So this evening I was sitting on the balcony type thing at the back of our house with Katie, and I was savouring a lovely big old bottle of beer. The night was drawing in as I poured the last of it into my glass and I reflected on how particularly frothy it was. As it was late, we decided to go inside, and as I picked up my now almost empty glass and headed into the kitchen I noticed the reason the beer had been particularly frothy. It was the slug that had crawled into the glass at some point earlier in the evening.
You should try it.
So that was the week that was.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
We Have a Website
Yes, it's true.
No, really.
It's designed to promote our shop, with information about events and news about all the nonsense that we get up. It's a bit like the blog, but with structure and no swearing.
There's a link to it here, you can Google 'Big Green Bookshop' and it'll be up there near the top.
It's brand new, and it's work in progress at the moment, but we wanted to launch it now, and improve on it, rather than procrastinate. I mean it's only been 15 months since we opened.
You can buy books on it, and we're furiously trying to add our favourite books onto the website. We don't list everything that's available in the world (the programme that does that costs quite a lot!) but we think it's important to highlight the books that mean a lot to us in the shop, but if the book you want isn't on there you can still order online by sending us a message which we will reply to within 24 hours (unless it's rudey).
There's a page dedicated to our events, which we'll update very regularly. I have 2 more to add this weekend.
We also have a page that let's people know about the other services we offer, like our Out of Print booksearch service, and our kids loyalty cards. We have a few ideas knocking around at the moment that we 'll be adding to this in the near future too.
We hope it will grow to become something rather lovely, and we're going to be adding some new pages onto it in the next few weeks. But it would be good if you could have a look around it and let us know what you think. If there's something that we've missed that's really obvious, we'd like to know, or if you like certain things we'd also like to know.
What harm can it do? CLICK ON ME>>>>
And here's a picture of some cheese.
It's a Cambozola, and a very tasty looking one at that. It's a kind of blue brie and is a milder version of Gorgonzola.
No, really.
It's designed to promote our shop, with information about events and news about all the nonsense that we get up. It's a bit like the blog, but with structure and no swearing.
There's a link to it here, you can Google 'Big Green Bookshop' and it'll be up there near the top.
It's brand new, and it's work in progress at the moment, but we wanted to launch it now, and improve on it, rather than procrastinate. I mean it's only been 15 months since we opened.
You can buy books on it, and we're furiously trying to add our favourite books onto the website. We don't list everything that's available in the world (the programme that does that costs quite a lot!) but we think it's important to highlight the books that mean a lot to us in the shop, but if the book you want isn't on there you can still order online by sending us a message which we will reply to within 24 hours (unless it's rudey).
There's a page dedicated to our events, which we'll update very regularly. I have 2 more to add this weekend.
We also have a page that let's people know about the other services we offer, like our Out of Print booksearch service, and our kids loyalty cards. We have a few ideas knocking around at the moment that we 'll be adding to this in the near future too.
We hope it will grow to become something rather lovely, and we're going to be adding some new pages onto it in the next few weeks. But it would be good if you could have a look around it and let us know what you think. If there's something that we've missed that's really obvious, we'd like to know, or if you like certain things we'd also like to know.
What harm can it do? CLICK ON ME>>>>
And here's a picture of some cheese.
It's a Cambozola, and a very tasty looking one at that. It's a kind of blue brie and is a milder version of Gorgonzola.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Local Things
A warning that this is likely to turn into a sweary post, so apologies about that.
Firstly I want to talk about lovely Noel Park, the area where I live in Wood Green. There's a wikipedia link to it here. It was made a conservation area and was given Article Four Direction status in 1982, which is meant to ensure that the houses keep their appearance and mustn't be altered without permission. The idea is to keep it looking pretty, because frankly, it's a lovely estate.
So, for example, you can't stick a satellite dish up on your house, or change the sash windows for alternative ones. Also you can't build extensions to the front (or back) of the house, and I suspect, you can't paint your house pink either.
Well, not in theory anyway...
The trouble is it's very difficult to stop people doing things, once they start. And this is what's happened over the last 10 or more years. It seems that this hasn't been policed particularly effectively, and now there are violations to these rules going on all over the estate.
There are lots of reasons for this. One in particular is that I don't think that many people who live in the estate even know that it's a conservation area, so have no idea they're doing anything wrong.
It's something that some of us locals have been thinking about, and one idea we had recently was to apply for a grant from the Making A Difference initiative to help raise the profile of it's conservation status by having some noticeboards put up with some history of the estate and also a map with points of interest on. These would be marked with plaques (like the Blue Plaques you see around) at each particular point of interest.
So I put together the application and sent it off. I asked for 5 grand.
I got a call today to tell me that we'd been awarded £2,500! That's all rather brilliant isn't it?
Obviously, we discussed the difficulty in affording all I'd asked for with the smaller amount of money and we thought about alternatives that would still have the impact of telling people about Noel Park, but on a more affordable scale.
I'm rather chuffed about this, and i'll keep you all informed about how it all progresses.
The timing couldn't have been better, as The English Heritage have announced this week their first ever Heritage at Risk register and Noel Park is one of the 3 Conservation Areas at risk. A link to this can be found here, and if you live in Noel Park it's worth a read.
I've also just finalised with Caroline Welch, the author of Noel Park, A Social and Architectural History, an event at the shop. Well, actually it's a historical walk of Noel Park followed by a snifter at the shop. August 13th 6.30pm kick off. So, if you want to learn a bit more about the area, this is another great opportunity.
OK here's the sweary bit.
Muswell Hill (I see it as the fancy hat that sits on Wood Green's head) 'celebrated' the opening of their first 99p store last week. Apparently it was chaos as eager shoppers piled in to pick up a bargain or two. Fights broke out and shoppers were locked in the shop until the scuffle was sorted out.
The local newspaper reported that local shopkeepers were worried that 'the new addition will cheapen the area and ruin its classy reputation.'
Happy shopper Susan Bennett said on the other hand "I just think it's brilliant and, more than anything else, it's great to see an empty shop busy again.
I don't think it will compete too much with the local traders because we haven't got anything else like this in Muswell Hill."
now then...
*** *****, co-owner of ****** **** Jewellers in the Broadway, said: "This is going to be the thin end of the wedge. It won't be long before we are another Wood Green or Turnpike Lane.
Fuck off *** *****, you pompous asshole.
Painting a whole area with your very thick and unpleasant brush doesn't help in any way.
I will say no more about it...
Firstly I want to talk about lovely Noel Park, the area where I live in Wood Green. There's a wikipedia link to it here. It was made a conservation area and was given Article Four Direction status in 1982, which is meant to ensure that the houses keep their appearance and mustn't be altered without permission. The idea is to keep it looking pretty, because frankly, it's a lovely estate.
So, for example, you can't stick a satellite dish up on your house, or change the sash windows for alternative ones. Also you can't build extensions to the front (or back) of the house, and I suspect, you can't paint your house pink either.
Well, not in theory anyway...
The trouble is it's very difficult to stop people doing things, once they start. And this is what's happened over the last 10 or more years. It seems that this hasn't been policed particularly effectively, and now there are violations to these rules going on all over the estate.
There are lots of reasons for this. One in particular is that I don't think that many people who live in the estate even know that it's a conservation area, so have no idea they're doing anything wrong.
It's something that some of us locals have been thinking about, and one idea we had recently was to apply for a grant from the Making A Difference initiative to help raise the profile of it's conservation status by having some noticeboards put up with some history of the estate and also a map with points of interest on. These would be marked with plaques (like the Blue Plaques you see around) at each particular point of interest.
So I put together the application and sent it off. I asked for 5 grand.
I got a call today to tell me that we'd been awarded £2,500! That's all rather brilliant isn't it?
Obviously, we discussed the difficulty in affording all I'd asked for with the smaller amount of money and we thought about alternatives that would still have the impact of telling people about Noel Park, but on a more affordable scale.
I'm rather chuffed about this, and i'll keep you all informed about how it all progresses.
The timing couldn't have been better, as The English Heritage have announced this week their first ever Heritage at Risk register and Noel Park is one of the 3 Conservation Areas at risk. A link to this can be found here, and if you live in Noel Park it's worth a read.
I've also just finalised with Caroline Welch, the author of Noel Park, A Social and Architectural History, an event at the shop. Well, actually it's a historical walk of Noel Park followed by a snifter at the shop. August 13th 6.30pm kick off. So, if you want to learn a bit more about the area, this is another great opportunity.
OK here's the sweary bit.
Muswell Hill (I see it as the fancy hat that sits on Wood Green's head) 'celebrated' the opening of their first 99p store last week. Apparently it was chaos as eager shoppers piled in to pick up a bargain or two. Fights broke out and shoppers were locked in the shop until the scuffle was sorted out.
The local newspaper reported that local shopkeepers were worried that 'the new addition will cheapen the area and ruin its classy reputation.'
Happy shopper Susan Bennett said on the other hand "I just think it's brilliant and, more than anything else, it's great to see an empty shop busy again.
I don't think it will compete too much with the local traders because we haven't got anything else like this in Muswell Hill."
now then...
*** *****, co-owner of ****** **** Jewellers in the Broadway, said: "This is going to be the thin end of the wedge. It won't be long before we are another Wood Green or Turnpike Lane.
Fuck off *** *****, you pompous asshole.
Painting a whole area with your very thick and unpleasant brush doesn't help in any way.
I will say no more about it...
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Chief Rabbi.
we were asked recently if we could sell books for the Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks new book Future Tense.
We said yes.
so last week I cycled from one Wood (Green) to another (St. John's) Wood, a journey of 5.3 miles, and arrived at the very lovely and very secure Synagogue, where I was greeted by a very amused security guard, who exclaimed, after I'd told him I was here to sell some books,
'you're a litle underdressed, aren't you sir?'
Fair point. Although, in my defence, I was on my bike, and would hardly be wearing my best bib and tucker (if I had a bib, or in fact, a tucker).
Thankfully, he let me in (and I did have a change of clothes in my bag), and I had a most wonderful evening. The guests were courteous and cheerful, the publishers, Hodder, had set up my table of books already and couldn't be more friendly, and the Chief Rabbi himself was a marvellous speaker and a nice chap to boot.
Well worth a 10.6 mile round trip.
It all went so well that we were asked to do sell his books at the London School of Jewish Studies, where the Chief Rabbi was doing a lecture last night.
'Of course', we said, and so off I rode (7.3 miles). Once again, it was a great night and I was treated to biscuits and coffee and everyone was lovely, and we sold lots of books.
I'm so lucky that in my 'job' I get to meet so many amazing people.
There aren't many other industries that I can think of that I would have met and chatted to all these people, Sofia Loren, Kenny Everett, Muhammad Ali, Mike Barson, Spike Milligan, Liam Brady, John Mccarthy and Jill Morell, Mick Jones, Lesley Joseph and Edward Heath. And also, on a more literary tip, Richard Ford, Nick Hornby, Chuck Palahniuk, Tom Stopppard, Dave McKee, Douglas Adams and hundreds more.
There are dozens more superstars (not in Lesley Joseph's league of course) that I could mention, but sometimes it's worth remembering how GOOD it is to be in the book industry.
Blah Blah Blah
Anyway, enough of that nonsense. Of course it's always dreadful and we should all moan constantly. That's the unwritten rule isn't it....
We said yes.
so last week I cycled from one Wood (Green) to another (St. John's) Wood, a journey of 5.3 miles, and arrived at the very lovely and very secure Synagogue, where I was greeted by a very amused security guard, who exclaimed, after I'd told him I was here to sell some books,
'you're a litle underdressed, aren't you sir?'
Fair point. Although, in my defence, I was on my bike, and would hardly be wearing my best bib and tucker (if I had a bib, or in fact, a tucker).
Thankfully, he let me in (and I did have a change of clothes in my bag), and I had a most wonderful evening. The guests were courteous and cheerful, the publishers, Hodder, had set up my table of books already and couldn't be more friendly, and the Chief Rabbi himself was a marvellous speaker and a nice chap to boot.
Well worth a 10.6 mile round trip.
It all went so well that we were asked to do sell his books at the London School of Jewish Studies, where the Chief Rabbi was doing a lecture last night.
'Of course', we said, and so off I rode (7.3 miles). Once again, it was a great night and I was treated to biscuits and coffee and everyone was lovely, and we sold lots of books.
I'm so lucky that in my 'job' I get to meet so many amazing people.
There aren't many other industries that I can think of that I would have met and chatted to all these people, Sofia Loren, Kenny Everett, Muhammad Ali, Mike Barson, Spike Milligan, Liam Brady, John Mccarthy and Jill Morell, Mick Jones, Lesley Joseph and Edward Heath. And also, on a more literary tip, Richard Ford, Nick Hornby, Chuck Palahniuk, Tom Stopppard, Dave McKee, Douglas Adams and hundreds more.
There are dozens more superstars (not in Lesley Joseph's league of course) that I could mention, but sometimes it's worth remembering how GOOD it is to be in the book industry.
Blah Blah Blah
Anyway, enough of that nonsense. Of course it's always dreadful and we should all moan constantly. That's the unwritten rule isn't it....
Friday, June 19, 2009
Mike Carey at the Big Green Bookshop
Last night we had another rather lovely event in the shop. The marvellous Mike Carey came along to the shop for some hardboiled exorcism related fun. Mike is the author of a very succesful series of Felix Castor novels and also a prolific story writer for Marvel and DC comics.
Much thanks for this event should go to Chris Brosnahan from GeekPlanetOnline, who not only suggested we invite Mike to the shop, but also agreed to introduce him (which he did, I might add, fabulously)
Mike read a chapter from the new Castor novel The Naming of the Beasts, which isn't out until early September.
He also answered some very well informed questions about the novels and also about his comic book writing.
We sold lots of books, and i'm convinced that those in the audience who hadn't read his books before, will definitely be giving them a try soon.
Much thanks for this event should go to Chris Brosnahan from GeekPlanetOnline, who not only suggested we invite Mike to the shop, but also agreed to introduce him (which he did, I might add, fabulously)
Mike read a chapter from the new Castor novel The Naming of the Beasts, which isn't out until early September.
He also answered some very well informed questions about the novels and also about his comic book writing.
We sold lots of books, and i'm convinced that those in the audience who hadn't read his books before, will definitely be giving them a try soon.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Most of this Stuff Doesn't Really Matter
I read the Bookseller (online), probably twice a day at least just to see what's going on in the book business. I used to read Publishing News too, before the prints stopped.
But, to be honest, the majority of the 'BIG' stories in the book trade press don't make much difference to us. For example...
Dan Brown is bringing out a new book later this year. This is important news for Tesco, Amazon and WH Smiths. They'll all sell it at half price and try and 'own' it. We'll sell half a dozen copies in the shop at its retail price.
Waterstone's is doing 3 for 2 on lots of book in lots of shops. Well, Smith's and Waterstone's do that anyway, so flip dee doodles.
Amazon is selling lots of books online. Yes they are.
Sunnyside, the new book by Glen David Gold was being offered exclusively to Waterstone's early and cheap. Well, let's be honest, Indies have been offered Indie only deals in the past (Charlie Higson, By Royal Command Ltd edition for example), so if the Sunnyside deal had gone ahead (there was a change of mind at the last minute), then we'd have just not stocked the book.
These are probably bad examples, but my point is that the most pressing issues of the week for us are:
When is the bloody lorry that parks at the end of the road, obscuring the view of the bookshop, going to ever get told to move by Lovely Rita Meter Maid.
How are we going to be at 3 school fairs on the same day next week, seeing as there's only 2 of us (Mark, I will be presenting you to the blog world very soon)
I hope the massive torrent of rain that just happened hasn't meant we have another leak in the shop, destroying £250 worth of books like last time.
How am I going to persuade Nick Hornby to visit the shop this year (maybe Haruki Murakami has his phone number, who knows)
So, in conclusion;
I read the Bookseller (online), probably twice a day at least just to see what's going on in the book business. I used to read Publishing News too, before the prints stopped. I will continue to do so, because i'm fascinated by the business that i'm in, and want to know what's going on (I guess i'm a bookaholic). But unless you choose to let things affect you directly, then it really doesn't matter, does it.
Chill.
But, to be honest, the majority of the 'BIG' stories in the book trade press don't make much difference to us. For example...
Dan Brown is bringing out a new book later this year. This is important news for Tesco, Amazon and WH Smiths. They'll all sell it at half price and try and 'own' it. We'll sell half a dozen copies in the shop at its retail price.
Waterstone's is doing 3 for 2 on lots of book in lots of shops. Well, Smith's and Waterstone's do that anyway, so flip dee doodles.
Amazon is selling lots of books online. Yes they are.
Sunnyside, the new book by Glen David Gold was being offered exclusively to Waterstone's early and cheap. Well, let's be honest, Indies have been offered Indie only deals in the past (Charlie Higson, By Royal Command Ltd edition for example), so if the Sunnyside deal had gone ahead (there was a change of mind at the last minute), then we'd have just not stocked the book.
These are probably bad examples, but my point is that the most pressing issues of the week for us are:
When is the bloody lorry that parks at the end of the road, obscuring the view of the bookshop, going to ever get told to move by Lovely Rita Meter Maid.
How are we going to be at 3 school fairs on the same day next week, seeing as there's only 2 of us (Mark, I will be presenting you to the blog world very soon)
I hope the massive torrent of rain that just happened hasn't meant we have another leak in the shop, destroying £250 worth of books like last time.
How am I going to persuade Nick Hornby to visit the shop this year (maybe Haruki Murakami has his phone number, who knows)
So, in conclusion;
I read the Bookseller (online), probably twice a day at least just to see what's going on in the book business. I used to read Publishing News too, before the prints stopped. I will continue to do so, because i'm fascinated by the business that i'm in, and want to know what's going on (I guess i'm a bookaholic). But unless you choose to let things affect you directly, then it really doesn't matter, does it.
Chill.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Lancashire Cheese
I've had a request to include a picture of cheese on the blog as a way of enticing new readers to the blog. Far be it from me to question the logic of Mrs E.
Here, as requested, is a creamy Lancashire Cheese
Here, as requested, is a creamy Lancashire Cheese
Sunday; Just The Facts.
Today I sold some books.
I sold some Lonely Planet travel guides, 2 copies of the '4 hour working week', a copy each of Mez Packer and Jayne Joso's new books and some spiritual stuff. I sold another copy of the New Chuck Palahniuk, some Rastamouse books, kids books, some cards and some giftwrap.
I also sold some novels from our novels tables.
I packed up some books that didn't sell to return to the publishers, and I discussed with various customers (at various times of the day) CGP revision guides, Wolf Hall and Fludd by Hilary Mantel, Will Self's visit to Wood Green last week, Mapp and Lucia by E F Benson and magic.
I mistook the author Gerald Durrell for Laurence Durrell and thought of two more authors to try and get to the shop for events.
I had no coffee as the milk had curdled due to the fridge breaking last week, and started to compile a list of new manga series to stock in the shop.
I couldn't find my bicycle pump, which I thought was at the shop.
I had a pee at about 1.30pm
This was my day at work.
I sold some Lonely Planet travel guides, 2 copies of the '4 hour working week', a copy each of Mez Packer and Jayne Joso's new books and some spiritual stuff. I sold another copy of the New Chuck Palahniuk, some Rastamouse books, kids books, some cards and some giftwrap.
I also sold some novels from our novels tables.
I packed up some books that didn't sell to return to the publishers, and I discussed with various customers (at various times of the day) CGP revision guides, Wolf Hall and Fludd by Hilary Mantel, Will Self's visit to Wood Green last week, Mapp and Lucia by E F Benson and magic.
I mistook the author Gerald Durrell for Laurence Durrell and thought of two more authors to try and get to the shop for events.
I had no coffee as the milk had curdled due to the fridge breaking last week, and started to compile a list of new manga series to stock in the shop.
I couldn't find my bicycle pump, which I thought was at the shop.
I had a pee at about 1.30pm
This was my day at work.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Will Self
On Wednesday we had our most high profile event since we opened. Will Self had agreed to come and read from and talk about his new book 'Liver'.
We are the Big Green Bookshop, but we ain't enormously big. We can fit about 50 people in there, but we figured that maybe more than 50 people would want to come along. So we approached Wood Green Library and asked if they could be the venue for the event. It made a lot of sense.
They said 'why, yes of course', like all good libraries should do, and away we went.
The capacity there was 100 (health and safety), and we decided to ticket the event, to make sure that people would definitely come along. The tickets were a fiver, but that was fully redeemable on the cost of the book on the night, so effectively, if you bought a book it was a free event!
We designed tickets in the shape of a Liver, and sales were brisk.>
Then Bob Crow, leader of the RMT, heard about the event. Me and Bob have a history going back to our school days when he used to put chewing gum in my hair and tie my shoelaces together. We've never got on. Anyway, in order to try and disrupt the event, he called a 2 day tube strike.
Well despite a few panicked phonecalls ('is the event still going ahead?', 'how do I get to Wood Green by bus?'), that didn't put off too many people, and those who couldn't make it were soon replaced by the last minute rush for tickets.
Will himself was travelling up on his bike (a man after my own heart), and everything was set.
We get everything set up and as the first of the audience started to arrive, so did Will. He was charming and friendly and as we sat and chatted, he told me not to worry about anything. I wonder how he could tell I was nervous.
We talked about short story collections and why they didn't generally sell as well as full length novels, and also about stuff that Will's been doing recently. He was interested about the shop, and talked about his visits to Wood Green when he was younger.
Anyway the library was now at capacity and after my shrt introduction, Sir William of Self stepped forward.
After lambasting the photographers that were taking photos for the local newspapers, he talked about the book and read parts of 2 of the stories. Firstly a raucous, expletive riddled section from 'Foie Humaine', which centres around a 'Colony Club' style drinking club in London. Will read brilliantly and made the tragicomedy come to life.
The second reading was something completely different form 'Lerberknodel', about a woman who, confronted with terminal liver cancer, travels to Zurich for an assisted suicide. It was heart stoppingly powerful, and it clearly moved a number of people in the audience.
After this reading he was happy to answer the audience's questions, and then signed copies of the book.
Another Happy Member of the Audience
Team Photo. Isn't he tall?
Will finally got away at about 9.30pm and thanked us for organising it all so well.
So to sum up;
We are the Big Green Bookshop, but we ain't enormously big. We can fit about 50 people in there, but we figured that maybe more than 50 people would want to come along. So we approached Wood Green Library and asked if they could be the venue for the event. It made a lot of sense.
They said 'why, yes of course', like all good libraries should do, and away we went.
The capacity there was 100 (health and safety), and we decided to ticket the event, to make sure that people would definitely come along. The tickets were a fiver, but that was fully redeemable on the cost of the book on the night, so effectively, if you bought a book it was a free event!
We designed tickets in the shape of a Liver, and sales were brisk.>
Then Bob Crow, leader of the RMT, heard about the event. Me and Bob have a history going back to our school days when he used to put chewing gum in my hair and tie my shoelaces together. We've never got on. Anyway, in order to try and disrupt the event, he called a 2 day tube strike.
Well despite a few panicked phonecalls ('is the event still going ahead?', 'how do I get to Wood Green by bus?'), that didn't put off too many people, and those who couldn't make it were soon replaced by the last minute rush for tickets.
Will himself was travelling up on his bike (a man after my own heart), and everything was set.
We get everything set up and as the first of the audience started to arrive, so did Will. He was charming and friendly and as we sat and chatted, he told me not to worry about anything. I wonder how he could tell I was nervous.
We talked about short story collections and why they didn't generally sell as well as full length novels, and also about stuff that Will's been doing recently. He was interested about the shop, and talked about his visits to Wood Green when he was younger.
Anyway the library was now at capacity and after my shrt introduction, Sir William of Self stepped forward.
After lambasting the photographers that were taking photos for the local newspapers, he talked about the book and read parts of 2 of the stories. Firstly a raucous, expletive riddled section from 'Foie Humaine', which centres around a 'Colony Club' style drinking club in London. Will read brilliantly and made the tragicomedy come to life.
The second reading was something completely different form 'Lerberknodel', about a woman who, confronted with terminal liver cancer, travels to Zurich for an assisted suicide. It was heart stoppingly powerful, and it clearly moved a number of people in the audience.
After this reading he was happy to answer the audience's questions, and then signed copies of the book.
Another Happy Member of the Audience
Team Photo. Isn't he tall?Will finally got away at about 9.30pm and thanked us for organising it all so well.
So to sum up;
- A very happy author
- A packed, engaged audience
- Loads of book sales
- New Customers
- A great new partnership with the Library
- A bit of a 'buzz' in Wood Green
- A happy Big Green Bookshop
An enormous thank you to Will for coming to do this event, and we hope this will encourage publishers to move us slightly higher up the list of bookshops when it comes to doing this kind of thing.
Oh, we have a few signed copies of Liver in the shop. Give us a ring and we'll put one aside.
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