Friday, September 22, 2006

Birthdays - A Two Edged Sword

Well, today is my birthday...hoooooooo ray.

It's the first birthday I've had since the birth of my own son Finn. That makes it seem more important somehow, like I am starting to realise why my parents love me or something, like I'm maybe even growing up a bit?

I've had thirty two birthdays now and my hair is thinning, my belly growing, my interest in politics and experimental novels diminishing - in other words I feel middle age rushing on.

And yet I still have a bloody minded determination to do things my way, to fight against the world (that says independent bookselling cannot work these amazon days - that whispers "you'll never make any money" - get a proper job - nobody is interested in authors reading or silly radio shows) and win, to create the best bloody bookshop in London if it kills me!

And just now a bloke was in the shop, came up to the till...

"Need a hand with anything?"

"No - I'm looking for gaffa tape and just saw this place for the first time, thought I'd pop in. Do you know what? I'm not going to buy anything now 'cos I'm only meant to be away for five mins but I think this is probably the best bookshop I've ever been in. I'll be back."

Thanks mate - Happy Bloody Birthday Me!

6 comments:

  1. Happy Bloody Birthday Pard'ner!

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  2. Cheers mate - Marie just bought me some chocs and I had a cake baked for me and everything (Finn and the Maz) so I'm kind of happy about being another year past thirty...

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  3. Aw Happy Birthday bookseller, oh to be 32, I have in excess of that to report next week,in fact if I was 32 and 21 again that would do it...I think? I have to do it or the fam have agreed to hack the blog and do it for me, blast that family password.

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  4. what sort of sad and lonely person says happy birthday to themselves on their blog, promting others to send him wishes to make himself feel better?

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  5. Not as sad and lonely as the sort of person who makes stupid comments on other people's blogs anonymously at 10 o'clock of a saturday morning

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  6. Happy Birthday,

    This makes you a libra, the best sign. If your wife, partner is an aquarious, even better. Your interest in experimental novels and politics need not continue adinfinitum. It is better to be a blobby, thirtysomething than a keen forty something, with no job, no hope and a keen interest in experimental novels. Unless you are Ken Kesey.

    Um... Just a thought.. Canadians nice? How is it possible when we have the same climate as the Russians?

    Take care and thanks for stocking the book

    John Stiles

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