The Bedside Crow

Justine's latest Families south east review: Summer 2009

AH! SUMMER IS HERE and I am at my laptop in the garden, squinting to make out the screen, breathing in the drifting chemical whiff of a hundred disposable barbecues as our corner of East Dulwich aims to accelerate climate change with a global flip of the Gordon Ramsey burger. It has all gone quiet now but have no fear because at sunrise tomorrow, our neighbours will once again release their small children into the atmosphere to yell in a garden not four feet from my own. I once suffered the ignominy of a smiling delegation from a few doors down who got together to grumble about the noise my own kids were making outside, so I banned anyone under five foot from going near the back door before 10am. They would watch with envy as our cat, Pigeon, lifted the catflap to escape silkily to freedom.

Continue reading.

The first time I met Wonder Boy, he pissed on me.

Opening line of the week, I would have thought.

The new Marina Lewycka. Sixteen quid, postage free.

Never done that before. I feel dirty now.

ooops!

  

Yesterday I went to look at a house, leaving Justine to unpack a couple of boxes. This was the first one that she opened. When I returned I got the *stare* and had to do the rest myself.

Do you have a copy of Miller's Antique price guide in stock?

The Antiques price guide? I repeat.

Yes, for 2009, the lady replies.

No, sorry, I say, I don't keep it in stock, but I could certainly get you one for tomorrow.

You don't keep it in stock?

No, but like I say, I could get you one for tomorrow.

How much is it, please?

Thirty pounds, I say.

Thirty, the lady says, adding, I've seen it for twenty.

Which is precisely why I don't keep it in stock, I say. That and the fact that it's the most stolen book in the whole of the printed world.

I see, says my customer. A thought bubble hovers above her head. It contains a word. That word is, *loser*.

But we don't care, do we children.

David Vallade bookmarks.

 

Lovely David Vallade bookmarks. Free, if you ask me nicely.

Stocktaking.

 

We may be some time.

In other news: Crystal Palace wants a cinema. Show your support here.

Ground Control To Major Tom

 

It could have been worse - the allusion could have been to The Police. Or Michael Jackson.

The first customer through the door this morning was looking for a copy of a book called Mozart's Women. The second wanted to know if we had any books *on* Katie Price. The third wanted to know if I could do a print out of books on Peru and the fourth came in to pick up a copy of Personal Recovery and Mental illness. The last time we had Mozart's Women was June 2006 - I took an order. The last time we had any books on Katie Price was never  was when we had 10 signed copies of the first one. Hot cakes and all that. I explained that there were 480 books listed with Peru in the title and that we might need to narrow it down a bit. The Mental Illness book, a paperback, cost £35.00 and we probably got a discount on it of about 5 pee. So it goes. As I'm fond of saying, it's a life of contrasts up here on the hill. And it looks like we need some fresh flowers.

And followers. You can show us some love on our new Facebook page. If you like.

 

There Are Cats In This Book - The Movie.

Really, really great.

And also, we have signed copies, too.

Wild Things.

Apologies for the late opening this morning.

 

I blame Gennaro, the second bottle of Gavi and the generous offer of free brandy. If you've never eaten at Luigi's one of the oldest Trattoria in London, then you really should. Particularly if you want a mid 80s flashback. In a good way.