Well, I Was Thinking I Was In A Rut...

[liadnan]

Just back from a long weekend that was rather less traumatic than expected. Today would have been my parents' 50th wedding anniversary and six months ago we were thinking about a major party. When my father died we decided we'd do something anyway, so all of us (four of us, three spouses, seven children from 6 months to 11 (12?), one bump) descended on my mother for the weekend.

Which allowed me to tell them all that (as of last Friday) I am (subject to it not all falling apart as it did last time something of the sort came up) going to A.N.Other, not too distant, jurisdiction, for six months. As soon as possible and at the latest by, err, the Monday after next (I then come back and fly to Greece the following Friday, but that's another matter). Can anyone suggest precisely what I should do with the 4000 or so books I have so painfully lugged from parents' to my London flat over the last several years? I spent a couple of hours on Sunday trying to clear a space in the lumber-room I used to call my bedroom... Anyone wishing to borrow books from me, this would be the moment to ask, so long as you appreciate you will be expected to give them houseroom for six months.

They were all pleased I was moving out of London, given recent events, which mildly and somewhat perversely irritated me. I will undoubtedly be back when the six months are up, though I've given notice on my current flat of course.

I expect to be back in London reasonably often, for those who may be desolated by my absence... I may or may not have time to arrange an evening when I shall Be In The Pub before I go.

Comments

[nicnac.livejournal.com]

Wow - how exciting! Where are you off to?

Glad you survived the weekend OK.

[rparvaaz.livejournal.com]

Where are you going? Some place nice and exotic I hope. I'd have offered to borrow all the books but I think it might not be cost effective to mail them all here for 6 months.

[susumu.livejournal.com]

I can't think of anything specific I'd ask to borrow, but I'll happily look after a box full for you if it'll help. Hope it all goes well!

[greyarea.livejournal.com]

Sounds good; is this related to the headhunting effort you mentioned?

If you do find somewhere cheap to store large amounts of books, let me know. I've got a few thousand looking for a temporary home as well.

[liadnan]

No, this is a temporary secondment.
My office walls are going to be lined with novels. Ah well, I don't have any law reports...

[itchyfidget.livejournal.com]

That sounds nice. Chilled, even. I'd take your books in a minute, but I'm not local and I don't have anywhere to put them.

[coughingbear]

How exciting, hope it does come off. I might be able to store some books for you; though I have rather too many books of my own I do have a dry attic and will definitely be living where I am for at least another year. (Naturally I am offering so that I can then read them.)

[booklectica]

I would have loved to take your books but Simon would throw me out on the street, given that we're specifically decluttering at the moment. Try renting storage space? We've got 25 square feet for about £60 a month.

[talvalin.livejournal.com]

Can I drop by and have a look? Anything I take can join the rest of the books that I'm not reading, but I don't have much space unfortunately. I'm sure there's something you've got that I'd like to read but I can't think of anything. Can you recommend something?

Also, are you having not-quite-leaving-as-I'm-coming-back-later drinks?

[liadnan]

See last line of the post...

[thalinoviel.livejournal.com]

If you have bookcases for the books I could conceivably put a fair number of them in our spare room.

[frankie-ecap.livejournal.com]

I don't suppose you have a copy of Wolves of Willoughby Chase that I could borrow, do you? No?

[liadnan]

Ahem. No, sorry... I figured out why I don't have a copy actually: it wasn't available in the same edition and I always meant to try and find it. When we were growing up I just stole my brother's: my own copies are actually relatively recent acquisitions consequent on his moving his books from my parents' house to his own.
(The ones I gave you are also missing the semi-detached _Whispering Mountain_ which has always, for reasons that I have never understood, been difficult to get hold of. _Wolves_ is certainly in stock in both Foyles and Blackwells CXR at present.)

[nikandra.livejournal.com]

ah, and I have just sent you your book back - I'm so sorry!!!

Where are you going?

[chrysaphi.livejournal.com]

Depending upon timing, I may well have space for as many of your books as you want to dump.