Ex Libris

Yesterday in an early effort to do some decluttering, I filled 6 bin liners with books.

I hoard books and I have managed to fill bookcases in every room of the castle with novels, textbooks , art books and reference books. It was time to get rid about 80% of them, only keeping the lovely art books and some novels which I may read again.

I was ruthless and didn't spend too much time agonising over the merits of each particular book, tipping them without much struggle into the binliners.
I still have about another 6 bin liners worth of books, mainly children's paperbacks that I have been keeping for the grandchildren, but who have scorned them on several occasions. By tomorrow they will be gone.

The reason for this flurry of activity is the Christian Aid Book sale which takes place annually in the Church of St Andrew and St George, Edinburgh and which starts on Saturday.

His Lordship (whose books are still in situ in his study. Would I dare chuck them out?) drove me and the redundant books down to George Street this morning and they were decanted into the willing hands of one of the helpers.
As I asked if I could take a photo of the scene, I was escorted up to the gallery and could look down on the activity beneath.. And what activity there was. I don't think I have ever seen so many books. They lay in cartons along every pew and were being added to as they arrived. There seemed to be every category of book under the sun, and a hive of human ants sorting them all.

I will refrain from visiting the sale. I might be persuaded to buy replacements for the books I've just discarded and that is definitely a no brainer.