The Aardvark Blog

Superb bright Sunday morning; changes to the bookshop
13/03/2016

As I reached the village this morning the sun was shining on Harley Hill and the whole scene was bathed in the most perfect spring light. I will be very surprised if we don't see the odd party of cyclists this morning, as the air is still and the sun has burnt off last night's frost - perfect conditions for a country cycle ride.

 Overnight more orders have come in online, and it looks like it could be turning into a bit of a schizophrenic weekend ( very busy on line and relatively quiet in the bookshop). Still we have only just opened, so there is plenty of time for me to be proved wrong ( hopefully not by orders drying up online).

Over the last week our new team has embarked on some important changes which you will notice next time you come into the shop. In the BookBurrow there has been a move round to acccommodate more space for the the Young Adult Fiction ( a growing section in terms of size and sales), and to get ready for the new display unit that is coming later in the month. This  has been designed by the Aardvark Team working with local carpenter Max McColl. We already have a number of pieces by Max in the shop ( including the much admired loveseat at the far end of the upstairs section ), and it seemed appropriate to ask him to create the new piece in the BookBurrow, which is being funded by a James Patterson Award. We will have an informal unveiling and pictures will follow!

In addition to the changes to the BookBurrow we are also having a big move round of the theology/religion section - partially in preparation for me picking up a big group of theology/biblical studies titles this week. Hopefully these changes should make it  easier for customers to find what they are looking for (I do apologise for any disruption whilst they are underway). It seems very appropriate to be having a big group of new theology titles, just as we are approaching Easter. This morning I finished re-reading one of James Runcie's Granchester stories ( inspired by the new series on ITV I am ashamed to say), and the story I read was set at Eastertime. I am very much looking forward to Easter this year - and the bookshop's being closed for the day on Easter Sunday. This year as usual we have booked for a family Easter lunch at the wonderful Milebrook Hotel, set in substantial grounds between Aardvark and the local town of Knighton. As I may have written before the Milebrook is set in a superb building, once owned by the Stanage Estate. and it has an intriguing history including having been the family home of Wilfred Thesiger the explorer and travel writer. The food and hospitality are always from the top drawer, and I am hoping that the weather might be warm enough to take tea in the garden after lunch.

We have more changes to the bookshop in the planning stage ( more categories in the fiction section being one of them), so do tell us your thoughts if you come in to the shop. Spring is a time of change and renewal, and a good bookshop needs to continue to grow if it is to survive and prosper.