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skyringDay one of the bi-annual Lifeline Bookfair here in Canberra. A huge event, with 150 000 good and cheap books laid out in an exhibition hall in Mitchell.
A bit of a Canberra tradition, and I've been attending since about 1992, when it was held in the far smaller Albert Hall, and only once a year.
Wildly popular, and the queue for admission on the first day winds around the carpark and out into the street, about 500 m long by opening time at ten.
I found a spot about an hour back from the head of the queue, had a chat to some of the booksellers taking up the early spots - I see them twice a year, many of them - and settled down to wait, with the help of Terry Pratchett on my MP3 player. DD turned up with half an hour to go, and I squeezed her in beside me, an episode of queue jumping that was to repeat itself throughout the day.
Wind and birds in the trees, otherwise a pleasant day with booklovers, chatting and reading and waiting. Came the door-opening, gold coin donation, and the frenzy began. This year I wasn't there for stock - the bottom has pretty much fallen out of the bookselling business - but I wanted to see what was available. Picked up a few videos: some Monty Pythons and Jane Austen I'll transfer to DVD. some travel books. DD browsed happily through the childrens books, she's after nice new copies of the classics.
After a while I pulled out for a cappucino. In the old days I would have been building up a stockpile, but now, well I don't care that much.
Noon saw the opening of the Rare Book room, where they keep the books that are first editions or signed or worth a bit more. There's always a box of Folios and I usually pick up a couple. Lorna Doone this time, and a Franklin Huck Finn, which was very nice. Gave that one to DD.
Home again, read my thriller, pick up DS from college and await the call from the airport. Kerri is returning home from Sydney today. She has the weekend and then it's off to China for a week.
A bit of a Canberra tradition, and I've been attending since about 1992, when it was held in the far smaller Albert Hall, and only once a year.
Wildly popular, and the queue for admission on the first day winds around the carpark and out into the street, about 500 m long by opening time at ten.
I found a spot about an hour back from the head of the queue, had a chat to some of the booksellers taking up the early spots - I see them twice a year, many of them - and settled down to wait, with the help of Terry Pratchett on my MP3 player. DD turned up with half an hour to go, and I squeezed her in beside me, an episode of queue jumping that was to repeat itself throughout the day.
Wind and birds in the trees, otherwise a pleasant day with booklovers, chatting and reading and waiting. Came the door-opening, gold coin donation, and the frenzy began. This year I wasn't there for stock - the bottom has pretty much fallen out of the bookselling business - but I wanted to see what was available. Picked up a few videos: some Monty Pythons and Jane Austen I'll transfer to DVD. some travel books. DD browsed happily through the childrens books, she's after nice new copies of the classics.
After a while I pulled out for a cappucino. In the old days I would have been building up a stockpile, but now, well I don't care that much.
Noon saw the opening of the Rare Book room, where they keep the books that are first editions or signed or worth a bit more. There's always a box of Folios and I usually pick up a couple. Lorna Doone this time, and a Franklin Huck Finn, which was very nice. Gave that one to DD.
Home again, read my thriller, pick up DS from college and await the call from the airport. Kerri is returning home from Sydney today. She has the weekend and then it's off to China for a week.
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Date: 2006-09-22 10:36 am (UTC)I generally can be found guarding a stockpile of a dozen bags or so off in a corner, just waiting for the magic announcement.