I have had the best day. Racing
around trying to fit in as many bookstores as possible was not the least bit
stressful and I ended up seeing 16 bookshops, counting the one I visited
yesterday afternoon. And that’s not even all the bookshops in Hay-on-Wye!! The
weather wasn’t sunny, but it held off the rain until the last bookshop of my
day and even then, it was very light. We had massive hot chocolates, copious
amounts of tea, and stopped for lunch at The Granary café, where I had an
amazing BLT. Aside from the bookshops, I popped my head into a few gift-y type
places, but really, I was here for the books, and it was the bookshops that I
enjoyed best. I went well over budget, and will very probably have to mail my
books home because of limited luggage space, but I regret nothing. I have
bought a couple of Peter Pans for my collection, and a few other bits and
pieces, including some presents for people (yes, you’re getting a book, Sean,
suffer in your jocks), and also went to The Fudge Shop and bought Baileys fudge
because yum. I have had so many conversations with locals today, all really
lovely booksellers and book buyers. One little old man sat down next to me and
introduced me to his Jack Russell who has been to the same bookshop 6 days a
week for most of her life. Her name was Lucy and he let me pat her and take
pictures of her while we chatted. I even went into The King of Hay bookshop,
which is named after Richard Booth who initiated the whole ‘booktown’ concept
and proclaimed himself king of the kingdom of Hay. He wrote a great
autobiography, which I’ll have to buy when I have the funds.
We got home and unpacked our
purchases. We’ve had dinner and are about to attempt to repack everything
including stuffing in our new books because we leave Hay-on-Wye early tomorrow
and travel to the Cotswolds. Wish me luck!
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