A Bookish Morning

I was wide awake far too early this morning, but I'd had a good night's sleep so decided to make good use of the time by finishing the novel I was too tired to read last night.

All the Devils are Here is the 16th Inspector Gamache novel by Louise Penny. I love the characters so much that I greedily devour each one. This was a bit different, set in Paris rather than the sleepy hamlet of Three Pines in Quebec – the Canadian version of Midsomer.

I enjoyed reading Louise’s reason for setting this one in Europe, it’s always fascinating to get an author’s inside scoop.

I dropped a bag of donations at the charity shop and fatally browsed the book section.

What jumped out at me was a novelty Star Wars book which I shall hide and give to youngest son for a Christmas present. No worries about him reading this and discovering my plans. He never reads my blogs.

I had a book to pick up at the library but on my way I discovered the second hand bookshop was open. So I wandered in with a vague idea of buying something for my brother’s birthday. He’s not really a book person but perhaps I could find him something quirky about a topic he enjoys. Alas I wasn’t inspired but did spot this.

Excuse the jaunty angle of this photo, I was trying to hold the book and take a photo at the same time. 

It seemed highly improbable there is more than one Basil Hunnisett in this world and it’s not a name I’ve ever really forgotten. I checked the author biography and indeed it was the very same Basil Hunnisett who was head of the Library Studies Department at Brighton Polytechnic – “now the University of Brighton.”

I can’t remember much about his lectures, but he wasn’t the lecturer who let us sit outside on a sunny day. I think he interviewed me for a place when I first applied and he was possibly the lecturer that told us all on the first day that we were all on the course because we were nosey, inquisitive, and wanted to find things out.

At the princely sum of £20 I decided I didn’t really need a copy in my own library, returned it to the shelf and tootled off to the library to pick up the book I did need.

We have decided to read this fictional account of Julian of Norwich in our church housegroup as a change from discussing Bible commentaries.

Reviews include one from Julian Clary “Am tempted to become a mystic.” And from the Rt Hon Jack Straw “strongly reminded me of Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet.”

I really enjoyed Hamnet and love finding out about real history wrapped up in a novel.

While in the library I looked for my own book, then discovered it was out on loan – which is probably even more exciting than finding it sat on the shelf unread.

So, I searched for my friend’s book and snapped a photo of that in situ – don’t worry Ruth Leigh, I checked and it has been borrowed a handful of times.

the pink on in the middle - Diary of Isabella M Smugge

I walked home happy and while in the mood for snapping photos I took a picture of this fine chap.

I have a friend who likes snails, she’s not as obsessed with them as writer Patricia Highsmith, but you need to check out my blog post on Authors Electric to find out that story.

A message to the two men at the bar…

Just how do people meet these days? Don’t give me that cliched answer of online, it’s a horrible way to connect, in my opinion.

I want to meet the old-fashioned way; a man picks up my accidently dropped glove in the street, our eyes meet and BOOM – love at first sight.

Or in a bookshop – why is that NOT a THING? Perusing the aisles, steer clear of freaky horror and bloody crime sections, head straight for Romance? Fantasy? Probably contemporary fiction is the best and safest place 😉

meeting in a bookshop from the film Dan in Real Life 

I can only dream of meetings in these locations. I file that thought away in the “future novels I may never write” folder.

Hilarity aside I was delighted to discover that a bar, near enough to me, but just far enough away to not be totally on my doorstep, regularly holds a singles night. Cherry* (not her real name) who runs the establishment is a bit of a matchmaker. You can tell she is itching to buy a hat for her first successful wedding.

Fifth Sunday hats by Ben Marc - discontinued

I’ve been to two such evenings now but there is something distinctly lacking. Although the men have been making enquiries about the event few have the oomph required to actually show up.

Considering it is a “Singles Night” most people turn up with friends for moral support but only a handful of us there last night had ventured out completely solo.

Last night I got talking to Jayne* (not her real name) who I had met last month and we soon caught up with what we’d been up to since we last met. Last month there had been a table of us, yesterday  just us two.

We both agreed Matt Hancock is creepy, but otherwise our political views meandered in opposite directions. We talked about books, there is some common ground there but Jayne is a really foodie with an appetite for travel. I’ve not visited half the places she has and gourmet food doesn’t excite me in quite the same way.

I don’t want to diss the sisterhood but I really don’t want to be stuck talking to her next month, just because we are the only two solo singles! To be honest I’m sure she feels the same way.

If it were a date I would have moved on sooner, but you can’t really leave a lone woman hanging, it would be rude.

Cherry came over and told us the two men at the bar were single.

“We have two empty seats at our table.” How bold was I? We desperately needed a spark to keep the flagging conversation going.

“Shall I send them over?” I nodded, feeling giddy and I swear I was only drinking lemonade.

But the men dithered and took too long to make a move, ordering more drinks for Dutch courage, one disappearing outside for a vape.

Meanwhile Jayne and I had grown bored of each other’s company we finished our drinks, decided to cut out losses and left in opposite directions.

Should we have waited longer and given them more of a chance? They looked nothing like Matt Hancock which is a promising start. There’s always next month I suppose, If I can pluck up the courage to venture out once more, it really isn’t easy for any of us.

So, my message to the two men at the bar is if you come again and see a cardigan wearing, bespectacled middle-aged woman with pink hair sat in the corner, that will be me – please come and say hello!