The Aardvark Blog

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
14/03/2015

Wow. Another week speeds buy. What has been achieved. Well first our science fiction section now has more than 400 new titles in it. Some really nice early volumes, and some great cover artwork. Part of the week I spent packing parcels, as our resolute packer and warehouse supremo was on holiday. Always good to do every part of the operation, and I go back to the day job with renewed admiration for him.

Then there was a lot of publicity work on our Easter events. Posters putting up, invitation cards sending out, press releases being emailed. Our Easter offering is I believe our strongest ever. 'Paper Wraps Stone' is truly a once in a decade exhibition, and the responsibility of getting it right is starting to weigh on me. I am picking up the catalogue next week from the printer and these will be available at the show and after.

Also last week the inexorable preparations for this year's map exhibition 'The Past is Ourselves' continued at a pace. Some maps arrived back from the framers, and Martin from Magna Gallery dropped in with the Perrot maps that he had been cleaning for me. These have come up superbly, and I do not believe that there is a more attractive small map ever produced. We will have a wide selection of Perrot' in this year's exhibition, alongside all sorts of rare and uncommon maps. Somehow we have managed to put together a show that is as large, interesting and comprehensive as ever we have ever managed. Prices will start at £25 so there will truly be something for every budget.

Finally next week we are interviewing for a replacement for Catherine. Fingers crossed, because how do you replace the irreplaceable. I worked out in the car coming in this morning, that Catherine is the only person I have ever worked with, with whom I have never had a crossed word. Still there is still a month to go .... Seriously we have had some very good candidates for the position - even a number of those that we have not called for interview seem very able - but Catherine's speed, accuracy, reliability and good humour have made her a pleasure to work with.

Notices: If you wish to come and hear Noel Kingsbury, Kim Hurst or Claire Austin please let us know. Tickets are free, but we would like to know and indication of numbers. The Private view of 'Paper Wraps Stone' will be on Thursday 2nd of April from 5.30-8pm; it is going to be a truly fantastic show, so please come along and see for yourself.