I suppose I should
have expected it. It was Monday the 13.th After traipsing miles to the address given on the phone company’s
website, this turned out to be a pet food shop.
This was devastating as I had been waiting all weekend to see them. I’d
already had one try at installing my Sim Card and their website says that after
two failed attempts, the phone becomes unusable. That made me so nervous that I
didn’t dare to try it a second time. I desperately wanted to know where they
had moved to, but the street was practically deserted and most of the shops
were closed. Did I miss something? Again?
Just as I was getting that ‘On the Beach ‘ last person left alive feeling, I saw a plane lunge strainght for the CBD. Expecting the crash and flash at any moment, I latched onto
the only other human in sight, a man
walking hurriedly down the street.
 |
| A plane plummets towards the CBD |
"Did you see that?" I stammered. “What’s
happening?”
“Regatta Day,“ he replied barely pausing for breath.
To my immense relief the
plane now did a U- turn and headed back up into the sky. Bugger, I thought another public holiday, but definitely better than the alternatives. I too headed towards the CBD. Luckily the bookshop for which my sister had given me a book voucher
was open, so my trip to town wasn’t entirely wasted. I love the smell of
bookshops. You don’t get that on the internet. Hallowed ground as it
were – like libraries - and you feel you should only talk in whispers. Good to see that despite Kindles and online shopping they are now on the up and up again. After the shock
closure of chains such Borders and Angus and Robertson, my secret
fear was that if I didn't very quickly take up my voucher there would be nothing there the next time I came. It happens.
The book I wanted
wasn’t in stock but it is now on back order. The bad news is that while I was
browsing the shelves for something else, I spent three times as much as my
voucher. It could be worse. At least you can share books or pass them on and I do like hardcopy when I can afford it.
 | |||||||
Not many people but love was in the air in the mall.
|
Thinking about the future of paper books, it's interesting to see how our attitudes have changed to the use of paper. I already have all newsletters and newspapers sent per email and only use recycled toilet paper. My solicitor accepts email instructions too. No more junk mail either, but still ancient forests are continuing to fall for trivial and transient uses such toilet paper and paper towels. Truly an obscene use! To see how our attitudes have changed though, where you stand and how far we could and should still go, see this article on the Care2 website.
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