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Post by dem bones on Sept 8, 2018 6:22:11 GMT
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL's £1 BOOKSALE is back! Tuesday, 23rd October 2018
2pm – 7pm Venue: the HQ (Human Rights Action Centre) in Shoreditch 17-25 New Inn Yard London EC2A 3EA
Closest transport links – Shoreditch High Street (Overground), Liverpool Street, Old Street.Thousands of new/secondhand books All books just £1 each! "We’ve got a wide range - fiction (lots of crime), biography, cookery, history, gardening and many more. We will also have Christmas goodies (it’s never too early) - cards, calendars and gifts. So, do come along if you’re free in the afternoon or after work to get some fantastic deals, whilst supporting Amnesty’s worldwide human rights work." For further details contact BOOKS FOR AMNESTY on 07771888825 Saturday 17th November
10am - 4pm Church of Ascension Dartmouth Row Blackheath London SE10 8BF
Closest transport links – Lewisham, Elverson Road.Amnesty Autumn Booksales
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Post by cromagnonman on Oct 23, 2018 21:34:18 GMT
The malign Fate that seems to dog my heels like one of Chetwynd-Hayes' blood slathered hounds whenever an event of this sort comes around was in full operation today. I had planned on a leisurely stroll from Old Street tube to the venue but doom laden destiny had other ideas. Old Street station was closed today on account of flooding, but the tube driver didn't deem it relevant to inform anyone of this until the tube was already pulling out of Moorgate. So a fruitless commute to the Angel and back ensued followed by a hasty preamble by foot along Bishopsgate. And at the end of it all the effort was all in vain as it was a pretty damp squib of an event. A dozen or so tables sparingly decorated with books, of which only three were given over to fiction. No vintage stuff either and nothing whatsoever relevant to these forums. Really wouldn't encourage anyone to make any sort of arduous journey to the follow up event in Blackheath. The journey home was then disrupted by signal failure on the Woolwich line. Honestly, its the same story every week. Bloody rail network seems to be falling to pieces. Still, at least there's this sunday's pulp fair to look forward to. But as ever Network Rail - bless their hearts - have seen fit to close my station for engineering so its the tireless delights of the rail replacement bus service yet again. Network Rail, in the words of Tuco the Ugly, "you are the son of a hundred fathers, all of them bastards like you!"
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Post by dem bones on Oct 23, 2018 23:20:23 GMT
Damn! Sorry to have missed you, Crom, and hope you have better luck (travel & books) on Sunday.
Got there shortly after two, and already the queue outside was snaking halfway along the street. Am guessing the limit on how many people allowed in at the one time was between 75-100. Eventually made the sale room at three - ram packed, barely space to swing an elbow, but very little left to fight over. Was out again inside twenty minutes. First event of this kind I've attended without coming away with even a token purchase (those very few items of personal interest just weren't interesting enough). Weirdly, I kind of enjoyed it. How many times have we heard "young people aren't interested in physical books?" Try telling that to the vast majority of today's attendees.
Then came the depressing bit.
On way home I cut through Spitalfields Market for what is likely to be the last time. Once a treasured, ramshackle hunting ground (for a brief while it was home to friend Milan's "Paperback Fanatic come to life" bookstall), it has now been fully "regenerated" (trans. Gentrified), and the Autumn 2018 model is not pretty.
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Post by cromagnonman on Oct 24, 2018 10:24:47 GMT
Damn! Sorry to have missed you, Crom, and hope you have better luck (travel & books) on Sunday. Got there shortly after two, and already the queue outside was snaking halfway along the street. Am guessing the limit on how many people allowed in at the one time was between 75-100. Eventually made the sale room at three - ram packed, barely space to swing an elbow, but very little left to fight over. Was out again inside twenty minutes. First event of this kind I've attended without coming away with even a token purchase (those very few items of personal interest just weren't interesting enough). Weirdly, I kind of enjoyed it. How many times have we heard "young people aren't interested in physical books?" Try telling that to the vast majority of today's attendees. Then came the depressing bit. On way home I cut through Spitalfields Market for what is likely to be the last time. Once a treasured, ramshackle hunting ground (for a brief while it was home to friend Milan's "Paperback Fanatic come to life" bookstall), it has now been fully "regenerated" (trans. Gentrified), and the Autumn 2018 model is not pretty. Sorry not to have bumped into you too, Dem. Had my eyes peeled for you as well. You know, I thought that huge queue I saw as I exited the place was for some other event. There was literally a dozen and a half of us milling about outside when they opened the doors at a quarter to two. Those hordes simply spontaneously appeared as if for some sort of happening. Or in this case a non-happening. But - misanthrope though I am - I suppose I should really be heartened by this demonstration of young people's interest in real books. Your point is well made. Sunday's fair is sure to be more enjoyable. The presence of Vault veterans in force guarantees it.
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Post by dem bones on Oct 24, 2018 20:06:24 GMT
Same thing. When I saw the queue, my first thought was that Ariana Grande was playing a secret gig in the main hall: the sale must be around the back some place. Fair cheered my old bones that, no, these kids were actually here for BOOKS.
The Spitalfields thing is a choker. An old school trader (best not give his name) has been telling me for some time that the market hierarchy were introducing restrictions on a weekly basis, essentially driving away the scruffy stalls to accommodate their bold new vision, i.e., peddling ALL NEW, pseudo vintage/ retro baubles, Banksy prints & Co., from identikit wooden hutches. Looks like they've won, ripped out it's soul. From my understanding, there's been a lot of pressure from residents of the new build flats, complaining about the noise, mess, etc. Seems they were completely unaware of the market's existence when they moved in. So much for the internet ...
On a happier note, have heard a few old friends from the Pulp fair's Victoria Plaza Hotel years are planning to attend on Sunday.
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