The 12 best questions I’ve been asked this year

1. Is this the bakery? (No)
2. Do young people still read do you reckon? (Yes)
3. What sort of discount will you give me on these? (The same discount as Woolworths give you when you barter at their checkout.)
4. Is this mask wearing territory? (Yes)
5. Do you need Readers Digest books? (No)
6. Have you read all the books in here? (Trying to)
7. You still here? (I know I’m somewhere)
8. Thought this place was called Jeff’s Books – that’s what Google says. (I am Jeff’s books. We’re magical.)
9. Are there any pubs in Strath? (Yes)
10. Can you have too many books? (As if!)
11. Do you know Gavin? (Maybe)
12.  How are you. Glad you’re surviving. (I am surviving, thanks to customers, visitors, and readers who keep on coming in and supporting tiny shops that have no hope on the real business scene, but who sell something that’s so intrinsic to survival that no day passes without a vintage sci fi or Virginia Woolf or something about painting model soldiers  leaves the store, saluting. I don’t know what reading really is, but like breathing it appears to be necessary, and with not much value in hurrying it along or wasting it for the wrong reasons. Anyway, thank you to everyone who keeps us going: good on you! )

Merry Christmas everyone: you know who you are xxxxx