Covid and Books

Today Ireland opens up a little bit more to being part of the outside world. It is all about getting the economy back on track. 
We have spent weeks on our property getting to know the garden from every angle. I even dream of what to do next....Our days are filled with preparing food, eating it and the doing that three times a day. We meet in our kitchen for these events and apart from that we all go our separate ways. Connor researches cars he can buy when this is over, Junah composes yet another piece of music, Shawn has swapped where to go next with doing online classes. The only child not with us is Madlyn. She has been trapped in Lisbon. Poor thing. All that sunshine and exotic lifestyle, must be tough. We all miss her and talk to her as much as we can.
The past lock down months have gone past dreamlike. It only makes clear to one now that it is easy to lock down and more difficult to actually open up again.
Retail will be in its knees, while Jeff Besos becomes yet again a multi billionaire. We keep making plans on how to open up again. It seems crazy to let people back in again, so we need to find a solution that keeps us safe but makes us also get a bit of cash rolling our way.
Nobody knows where this is all going, one thing is certain it will be a recession and there is no way around that for sure. 
Lock down gave me a lot of time to think about what it is I want to do differently. Gosh, so many times have we changed route or should i say adjusted our path in order to make a living. The future is exciting for sure.
Today I went with Junah to the recycling yard to get rid of a lot of cardboard. We also had the window cleaner in and he is convinced that a lot of shops will not reopen at all let alone restaurants.
We went to Hawthorn to get some work done and then its off home for some food and a walk in the garden.
No book orders at all today.

All things bygone

I have a real thing for old vintage cars. When I see them i feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Its like I was born in the wrong times.

I love old cameras, planes, cars, books, record players, houses, motorbikes, photos, and music.

A little change needed

Well, that went well with trying to post once a week. I think I may have taken my mouth full there. The truth is that we have transformed a part of the bookshop into a little cafe where we serve coffee, tea, cake, chocolate bars and some hot foods. We actually replaced American History with some tasty options.
It is a family effort. They are all on board. Some more than others.
It took a while to get used to the whole dealing with customers. It is not like I have never worked in hospitality. I actually managed a few restaurants back in the day when I should have been studying computer science. The money was good and it was a little university town in the middle of Europe. I really liked it.
But after years of being a mummy I was quite happy being in the background reading my books.
The thing is sometimes you have to sacrifice something when it is needed. And, oh boy it was badly needed. We needed cash. It was after the season and far away from Christmas. I felt the kids were old enough and if they wanted me or were hungry, they knew where to find me. In the Bookshop Cafe.
So, here we are 1 year later  and the place is flying.
So, I guess there will be more stories to tell due to the fact that a cup of coffee gives a customer more bla bla rights? We shall see.

The Owner or The Help?

My husband has been in the Book business for ever. We met, he fell in love with me, he provided me with books and I fell in love with him. Of course being a mom was my priority. I got to read all I wanted while being with our kids. Best deal ever. Over time I became more involved with the "front of house" day to day business of things. I am surprised that in 2018 people still think that a female in a shop is automatically the "help" she could not be the owner.
"So, who does this shop belong to" I get all the time. I enjoy saying that it is a labor of love from my husband and myself, cause lets face it behind the scenes work is just as important.
People know it is our shop but refer to it as my Husbands shop. He is the feminist in our house and does not like this at all. He frequently makes clear that the shop is our shop. So, there are some days when being the "help" comes in handy.

Today I have an elderly gentleman in and as he makes his way through the shelves he keeps glancing over to me and after a few moments "fine collection of books" he mutters. "Now, young lady?" I like him already. "Do you know your history? I was once at a house........." He commences on a long story of family history and dates. I zone out. My eyes go to a book in the shelve "How to stop negative thinking" I must pick that one up, when Mr. Blabbermouth stops talking.
"You see, the owner of this Book shop must have understood that if he displays the book here then he creates........." on and on he went. Hang on a second, did he just say the owner and HE?
Oh, thank god the door opens and I secretly hope it is my husband so he can deal with Blabbermouth but it is the postman. It does the job though. He stops and asks if I know the owner and his interests. Do you know that feeling, of you kind of want to tell the truth but you just cannot be bothered?
"No, you see I am just the Help, but I will let him know you like the display". He nods "Do you like working here"?
"I do, I get to read all these books" I giggle like a little Art history student and hope it is all over soon. He buys a paperback and wants a discount. "So sorry, Sir but you see I am not the owner so I am not authorized to give discounts."
He understands, pays and off he goes. I need a coffee.

That Book by Winnie The Pooh

October 2018
During the Summer there was a lovely flow of customers coming in to the shop and dedicating to buying books and having little chats here and there so that one could call it really pleasant. Since October, this so called cash flow stops with the flick of a switch. There really is not anything to look forward to then and of course it really does stand out when the following happens:
I am at the computer digging into the accounts by popping the info needed on to that cloud. It is chilly, sunny but really quite chilly. Door opens. Now this is the moment when you do not really have to look up to check who it is. You sense by the way the door opens if it is customer A,B or C
A: Now customer A is my favorite, he or she enters and they start at the shelves and do not want to miss anything, usually accompanied with little noises of "oooooo" or "aaaaa".
B: Customers B is bit more tricky. He or she enters and starts talking to me while looking at the shelves, essentially keeping me away from what I am doing.
C: Customer C can be a short or a long nightmare. He or she comes in through the door and marches past all the books and makes a full stop at my desk to ask the daft questions.

Today I had Customer C. Door opens. My stomach is already clenched by the accounts I am looking at, I think the day cannot get any worse. Here the steps come stomping up and straight into full swing of bla bla "You got that book by Winnie the Pooh"?
He has a piece of something between his teeth and I am not sure if I should tell him or start laughing. The question is slightly better than "I am looking for a book from back in the day with a green cover, you might have it"?
Oh, this is going to be good, I think "Surely you mean Winnie The pooh by Milne?
"Alright then, do you have it"?
My mind already knows that he is not going to spend the money for the nice Edition I have in the shelve, but I do need to get up and be sure and also give my legs a stretch. 
I show him the lovely book and he asks the price while chewing on the thing that was stuck between his teeth. "Och, God I cant pay that, Me mother told me to get the book by Winnie, I kind of thought she meant a cheap paperback, you do have them, don't you?"
I am beginning to think my accounts are more fun at this point. He spots a book on Arts and Crafts. He starts a whole monologue about his renovation of his garage and I can see him talking but I stop listening. "Do I get paid enough to listen this crap" are my thoughts. He finally comes to an end and wishes me good luck with the sales of the Miller book and he is gone.
I love this bookshop especially when it is just me and my books.
God, I wonder what the family has in store for me today. I go back to my Cloud.

Where to begin when you are right in the middle of it all?

Hello there, 

my name well, lets say my name is wife and I live in one of the English speaking countries. Cause the truth is, lets face it when you write real life accounts you are bound to hurt or piss off somebody. Also, I am not quite sure in what direction this one is going. 

Will I be bitching about customers in our bookshop or will I be bitching about my bougie teenage kids that are lazy and spoiled or shall I tell about the phenomenal Sex drive me and my husband have despite constant moving to different places, four children, 3 dead dogs and several failed businesses? Lets just say we stay neutral but the things that happen to me and my family happen to us all. 

Life is one of those funny things you read about on bumper stickers and on a really bad day that sticker puts in into perspective. How sad, well reading a full book can also put things into perspective but who has the time these days?

I sit in our Bookshop waiting for you, that perfect customer that comes in and smells the wood and old books mixed with coffee scent. I wait for you to walk along the shelves and be overcome with nostalgia that you want to hang on to those childhood memories cause you are hitting 50 and things are not going well and the only thing you feel in control of, is buying that book. I wrap it and you take it home and of course my aim is to get you back for more. I want you to start a library and feel you are doing something for the generation after you. 

The truth is you will be cursed as a collector cause your family thinks you are crazy. "you can get that on Kindle".

When I don`t sit in our Bookshop I am at home cooking for my lazy Teenagers. "Relax Mum, you are always running around, just sit and have a tea". How come they don't get that my running around is result of them laying around?  

So, why the blog? Well, I am a woman that needs an outlet. I have things to say and a lot to share. I am not too focused on everybody finding out exactly who I am, cause I want to have my coffee in this small pit of a town in peace and quiet. 

My aim is a post a day, but that is bullshit so let us just say ONE POST A WEEK.

Short and snappy. So, let it begin. Did I already mention I am not too fond of people?

 

Are these Books for sale?

Today was a very busy day. Summer is in the air. I love this time of year when there is a buzz in this god forsaken town. Everybody wants to move here cause they think it is like this all year round.

My first customer today was John Minihane. He just came back from Dublin and wanted to tell me that he will be heading for Paris. We share a lot with John. We kind of want to be there were the intellectuals hang out and discuss world problems, that is not here. We make jokes about this a lot and we talk about time frames and where we should be all living.

But today we are here in good old Skibbereen West Cork.

John left his paper here which was a funny coincidence cause he came back in the afternoon looking for it and while he was in he was recognized by three Canadians who admired his work. John thrives on compliments. It makes his day and lasts for weeks.

A lady came in and asked " Are the books for sale ? "

What am I going to do with comments like that? I might start drinking again to cope.