Room 202
The mud was back on the stairs again this morning. Being cleared away by two cheery ladies who appeared to think everything was normal. But it’s not. It’s really not. I still haven’t seen another resident – although I have heard voices. And my soap was missing this morning. Try shaving without. It’s not room 101 – but it is room 202 (honestly).
Roger in his Office
But back to the point. Booksellers, bookshops. Slight friction between Roger and Jane, but barring an unfortunate incident at Llandudno Junction trying to obtain a ticket for the car-park – an episode that took half an hour, involved two lifts, eight longish flights of stairs, three conversations, deliberate misdirection – if the lift doesn’t go anywhere, why claim it does? and what’s it for? – the expenditure of £3.20 and a telephone call, it was a pretty good day. Roger and I set our course westwards to the principality and arrived at Madoc Books in Llandudno virtually without incident (the car-park came later).
Patrick Elliott of Madoc Books
Paddy pleased to see us, a handsome shop, very impressive stock – especially of Welsh material and private press. Highly creditable all round. We both managed to find something to buy. I popped along the road to
Siop Lyfrau Lewis
Siop Lyfrau Lewis a few doors away. Roger declined. And then off again.
Llandudno Junction. Right on the roundabout (use the Asda car-park, not the railway station unless you are interested in surreal experiences – I know this now) – the present whereabouts of the legendary Gerry and Glenda Mosdell. The Junction Bookshop. Retired, my eye. The old Post Office turned into an immaculate little bookshop. Spick and span, neat and tidy, nothing pretentious – simply attractive, interesting and readable books at sensible prices. And how important has Gerry been to our trade? One of the founding fathers of the PBFA. Reflect on that. His thoughts now – time we went back to one association. Roger looking a little peaky at this turn in the conversation. Made our excuses – but both with a bag of books and delighted to have found them and renewed old ties.
Bay Bookshop, Colwyn Bay
Rumour had it that Colwyn Bay could still boast three second-hand bookshops. How many towns can claim that? We found two – the Bay Bookshop open, welcoming, and perfect for holiday town reading. The second closes at 3.30pm, but certainly exists. As does the third, but a monsoon blew up out of nowhere and confined us to the tea-shop.
Back to Macclesfield for a quiet Thai supper (excellent) and plans for the morrow.
The Bookhunter on Safari 
That picture is of an interloper – i’s not me. Why no mention of the batteries Laurence ? And did you eat the soap in mistake for chocolate ?
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Of course it’s you – but you are right. Very many thanks to Paddy Elliott for charging up the camera battery to enable the camera to function once more. And the organic soap from the slightly weird vegan cafe in Preston is fine – as was the chocolate. Much the same texture but quite different in colour.
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