Here we go ...

August 1 seems like a good date to get started, 'cos I'm just procrastinating - pretty sure the Pareto factor (aka the 80/20 rule) applies to building a website, whereby I'm in danger of expending 80% of my effort trying to complete the final 20% of this site! So...

I love books. Always have done really, ever since my mum took me to the small brick shed which was the village library where we lived. But it's as much about the look and feel of them as it is about the content - I realise now that I've passed the point where I've got enough time left to read all of the books that I would want to read!

And about a year ago I went to my first auction, where I discovered that all sorts of goodies can be yours, sometimes for a song! It turns out that sellers don't always appear to know what they're putting up for sale, buyers don't always know what they're looking at, and (whisper it quietly) auction houses don't know as much about the books they're selling as you might think. But then all three of those descriptors probably apply to most of us, right?

No point in fretting about it, though - there's much more fun to be had by revelling in it! Twelve months on, my books are on Amazon and (mainly) eBay, I'm a regular at three auctions (getting to grips with selling at two) and I'm out and about at collectors fairs, car boot sales, and shops of the antique, vintage and charity variety.

So ... onward and upward, let the games begin, bring it on and let slip the dogs of war (choose your favourite, whatever). This will be an irregular look at buying books (and maps and ... stuff), finding out about them, lovimg them and moving them on. Enjoy - or not!

(Oh, the photo ... no idea, haven't worked out how to change it! I could lie and tell you it's Ian Curtis from Joy Division, which would make me very happy but it's a complete fabrication.)