TS Eliot
50th anniversary
The Christian Aid Book Sale in Edinburgh’s George Street has just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Fifty years! And it has shown all the enthusiasm and vigour of former years pre-pandemic; no hint of jaded spirits that I could see.
Both altruism and the printed book are still very much alive and well. Wahey!
The setting in St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church’s magnificent building is stunning,
… with the space inside on two levels filled with books, all carefully categorised,
… spilling out in abundance into the surrounding courtyard.
The message and cause are abundantly evident within and without …
From the volunteers efficiently and cheerfully emptying boxes of books from our cars beforehand (and we had the contents of two people’s libraries as well as several cartons of our own books to contribute this year), to those manning the stalls on the very last day, we met only smiles and helpfulness.
And the sheer volume of books shows no sign of diminishing. Table after table of boxes of novels and non-fiction,
… and an impressive display of more expensive rarer tomes, not to mention all the cards and ephemera and music and toys and jigsaws.
There were pearls to be had everywhere, too. I loved this little volume of The Book of Nonsense with hand-painted pictures!
And this delightful 1990 edition of the much loved Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, written by TS Eliot for his godchildren and friends in the 1930s.
As if this whole enterprise were not enough to oversee, the convenor, Lady Mary Davidson, somehow manages to hand-write personal letters to us authors who donate copies of our books. Not after the event, or at some comfortable time in the future; oh no! but immediately, during all the hullabaloo of preparation. Impressive, or what?
I salute every volunteer giving of themselves to this brilliantly worthwhile charitable event, a cause very dear to my heart. You have pulled off another major triumph.
(Apologies for the amateurish photos taken in my phone as I browsed.)
2022 – New beginnings
Scratching around trying to think of something new and original to say for the start of another year, it occurred to me that writers over the centuries must have penned apposite quotes. Sure enough, they have, and I feel I can do no better than share some of those most pertinent to scribblers everywhere.
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.”
~ T.S. Eliot
“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one!”
~ Brad Paisley
“The New Year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.”
~ Melody Beattie
“A new year. A fresh, clean start! It’s like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on! A day full of possibilities!
~ Bill Watterson
Wishing you courage, kindness, peace, and new opportunities.
To 2021
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.”
T.S. Eliot
Here’s to a much brighter 2021.
