So, the latest Peebles book fair again, and a happy Saturday morning was spent by me and Dan, plus my parents, browsing a huge stock of second hand books.
The proceeds go to a range of charities – even though last year’s fair was partially snowed off on the Sunday, they still raised £8000 over the one weekend. Hope they’ll do even better this year.
As we’ve been for a good four years now, we develop different techniques to stalk our prey. I move in for the kill on the children’s books section (not to the kids, naturally), and was able to claim a few new ones to fill gaps in the collection.
Others (the men) tend towards the hard backs first. Is this a greater prize? Don’t know, but Dan reckons he bagged the only two science fiction reads in the hall.
You can also search by categories such as biography, Scottish-related books, as well as fighting past the multiple copies of “The Full Monty” on video on the entrance hall. There’s generally a good antiquarian section too, although no special finds this year.
When it comes to bagging the collection, I favour the fairly brazen technique. “I’ve brought my own bag, I have X amount to spend, and I don’t want any change. How many of these can I have for my money?” They’ve not refused me yet.
I must protest at the lack of business books at the fair this year! In past years there were at least five. This year I bought both of them . . . Oh, well – that’s what Shelter Books in Stockbridge is for. Got two Rough Guides; one for Austria and one for Morocco. I wonder if we’ll make it to Marrakech this year?