I don’t mean to skite, but life is good when it’s all about books. When I’m not working with words in my role as editorial intern for Green Olive press, my other job is as a bookseller at Ariel, in The Rocks. Are you jealous? I’m sorry, but it is as delicious as it sounds. Not a bad balance for an obsessive reader. Especially since for both jobs it is a requisite to read. Can you imagine? Now I’m not messy, I’m busy.
Every day is different at the bookshop. Sundays are crazy and busy and fun; people from all over, and Walter the Farting Dog the biggest seller. Monday nights are lovely and peaceful; fellow booklovers quietly browsing, unconscious half smiles on their faces. Monday nights I dust and polish and tend to my books and chat, all of us in the same place of gentle bliss. Book chat turns to life chat, strangers join in, and we’re commiserating and communing and fixing the world. And then chat turns back to books.
That’s the normal turn of events. Christmas is special. Christmas at Ariel sparkles. I like to get there early and stay late to fight any dust that might deflect the shine. The shop is full and fat with luscious books. Customers enter with a bounce in their step. They come to me juggling armloads, asking advice. I love those conversations. Even though first instincts are always right, we talk them through and I learn all I can about granddad and mum and nephew and child and sister-in-law. They leave with bags crackling, full of festively wrapped perfect gifts, each so thoroughly discussed they can’t possibly be wrong. The bounce would be a skip if they weren’t so laden.
Christmas parties I’m not so sure about. The Society of Editors’ (NSW) Christmas party was a winner. Have you been to the Flying Squadron Club at Milsons Point? You must. What a view. Who cared about the weather? Caroline, Mandy and I had a great time, and everyone sitting near Caroline won prizes. I didn’t, but that would just be greedy, wouldn’t it?
- Belinda Holmes
And here's where we went...http://www.sydneyflyingsquadron.com.au/restaurant-bar/
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