Books

Friday 30th November. Thursday night late night shopping was lovely. My housemate and I jumped off the bus like excited children, but were due some early disappointment. It began with almost deserted streets in Falmouth, then as we wandered from Dorothy Perkins to Thorntons (bad move - bought chocolate) more people drifted onto the streets. The weather didn't help - damp and chilly, not the weather for shopping. But we persevered. The Bookshop provided us with a treat: a free glass of wine and a mince pie, I, unusually as I don't often drink, had a very small glass of red wine which was very nice, warming, but passed on the mince pie. We were in the book shop for a long time, breathing in the warmth and the wonderful scent of new books, crisp pages and soft, fresh covers. We also met a real life author, Philip Moran, who gave us each a little photo of the real 'Soggy the Bear' star of now two books. Soggy himself was also there in the fur and so I shook his paw. As we came out of the bookshop reluctantly, we were rewarded with a band and a parade of lanterns and children down the street. They were beautiful large paper ships and lanterns, lit from inside by candles. Brought down to real life somewhat by a man with a fire extinguisher close behind, but for a moment it was fairy like.
I enjoyed myself, and it was a lovely evening. One that you realise at the time it is passing that you will remember and smile at. We finished it off with a hugely indulgent meal out at Southside: I drank ginger beer and gorged on a bowl of hand cut chips, fantastic, dabbed with ketchup and a pizza. Oh, I felt so full, but it's good to indulge once in a while. Diet starts again very soon.
I ended the day at The Front with friends from the course: one playing on the open mic night. A day of good company.