Not all those who wander are lost
J R R Tolkien
I dropped Julia off at work this morning. The gates into the school car park were open today, as it’s school holidays, so we were able to drive right up to the garden gates and unload plants. Yes, unload plants. We’re at it again, making up gardens from scrounged plants.
After that I took a turn through the countryside between Nottingham and Loughborough. It’s scenic, though unexciting countryside, with some pleasant villages. The weather was a bit dull for photography and I wasn’t on top of my game so there are no photographs today. If there were, they would be pictures of gently rolling countryside with lots of greenery.
The trouble was that I started off mentally listing the things I need to do to set my life right, I’ve been letting things drift over the last few years and need to get organised.
Unfortunately this line of thought has a habit of sliding into thoughts of things that went wrong, things I should have done better and bad decisions I have made. It’s often sparked off by looking at a biggish house and thinking “I could have had one like that if I’d worked harder and planned better.”
However, I enjoyed my life as an unprofitable antique dealer and gardener. I also enjoyed the unprofitable time I spent with the kids. And I have two neighbours who ply me with cake.
All in all, it could be worse.
Eventually, I decided I was lost. Strictly speaking I couldn’t have been lost because I wasn’t going anywhere. That’s often been the subject of some discussion between me and Julia when I’ve been happily exploring country lanes over the years. Just because I don’t know where I am doesn’t mean I’m lost. And if I’ve got nowhere particular to go I can’t be going the wrong way.
After that I succumbed to the lure of the Oxfam bookshop in West Bridgford. It’s been refitted since last time I was here and is much better lit and laid out. This isn’t necessarily a good thing as I liked the poky old shop. In fact part of the experience of buying second-hand books ought to be in the dim, cramped, slightly musty conditions.
I resisted the temptation to buy books on Shakespeare, Mary Queen of Scots and Richard III, but did buy books on Percy Toplis, Moorcroft Pottery and historical trivia.
The Moorcroft book cost me £3.49. It was originally £35. Unfortunately, just as I was feeling economically prudent I took a look at the prices on the Moorcroft site.
I’m going for a nice lie down in a darkened room now.
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I love going through old bookstores. Many treasures waiting to be found at a good price. 🙂
Yes, you can’t beat an hour in a good bookshop. 🙂
We loved our tour of the Moorcroft showroom a few years ago, we just averted our eyes from any mention of price! We were given a small Moorcroft dish as a wedding present and have often thought it might be nice to have some other pieces to go with it. However…….
I also prefer second-hand book shops to be a bit dark and musty. One has hopes of finding a rare first edition that has been missed amongst all the dusty heaps.
Yes, it’s a great place, though you need plenty of self-control when looking at the price tags.
As for that elusive and overlooked first edition…
I want to say that I could have been a contender and was only held back by lack of talent, energy and a natural cowardice.
Yes, that’s a fair summing up of my life too, though I’ve never thought of you lacking talent or energy.
It just goes to show that I can write a good story. 🙂
And that’s another talent! 🙂
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When you get to our age, if you have no regrets, then you’re not being honest 😉 Antiques, gardens, and children are not only a worthwhile focus, but a creative one as well. Plus, you have two neighbors who ply you with cake. You are one lucky man!
Yes, when you look at it logically I have nothing to complain about. 🙂
I imagine that if we wait long enough the bottom may drop out of Moorcroft
I’m not sure their quality control would be happy with that. 🙂
Goodness, those are some vases! Never paid that much for one, and I do like to buy from potters. Well, you can enjoy the book in any event.
Yes, books bounce when you drop them. 🙂
Blimey. I’ll have two of those! Can’t really imagine being able to pay that much for a pot. Or anything else for that matter.
We bought some as a treat for Julia about ten years ago (though they were seconds and nothing like those prices!) but with our kids we’ve never had the courage to display them. 🙂
Well yes – I’d be terrified. Have to admit – they do look stunning from the ones I looked at.
They did one with Puffins about 20 years ago, though we couldn’t justify the expense at that time.