Barter Books

Yesterday was a Barter Books day Barter Books - One of the largest second hand book shops in Europe. and involved , after a brilliantly warm and sunny walk on the beach ( to tire out the greyhound ) , a drive to Alnwick crissong ( or crossing ) country to pick up a mother and a flask of coffee , an altercation with a SatNav , several false starts , a conversation with a greyhound loving window cleaner (whose partner sadly didn't feel the same) about how easy it is to settle a rescue dog into the family ( it is the work of minutes, nay seconds if you don't count the odd puddles ), the jubilant production of the disabled badge allowing us to park car and dog right outside the station which houses the bookshop thus enabling us to keep an eye on Alice who sat upright keeping one eye and one ear on us during the hour we perused the collection of second hand books . The old station is amazing . Its not new to me but there are always new books and as you step inside the smell of old paper is wonderful . A model train is set up above eye level and chugs past from time to time adding a quirkiness to the place . The old fashioned waiting rooms are still intact offering space to sit and peruse the books , music , dvds and magazines , and at the front is an open fire with a coffee pot percolating away with home made biscuits on offer . The leather sofas are popular and occasionally house a dozing " reader " , and sometimes the genuine article . Most people are avidly searching the shelves however, an air of excitement and buzz rarely felt in a bookshop . Here there are genuine bargains and real finds to be had , first editions in mint condition , ancient books of poems and all manner of droppping to pieces cookery books full of old fashioned recipes from yesteryear . There is something for everyone .

We finally leave with an assortment of goodies and Alice has a lollop on the lawn to the side .
At my parents house she then chases the cat up the tree in the garden and falls into the pond. Satisfied with her day , she falls asleep exhausted in the back of the car and snores till we arrive home an hour later .

Having missed her afternoon sleep tells on her and she sleeps in this morning .... I miss my morning wake up call at 6 am and D has to wake her at seven thirty ... bliss ..... !