Matthew posted yesterday so I guess it's my turn now. I'm the quiet, taciturn one responsible for logistics and shop maintenance (the Non-fiction sections). He's the sales manager (the fiction section).

I would, however, like to echo Matthew's sentiments regarding our new home from home - Lower Marsh. Having worked in Chelsea for the last 4 years I can honestly say the people who live and work there are a completely different branch of the animal kingdom. Maybe, they are even from an alien world. I don't respond too well to rudeness, arrogance, ignorance, snobbery, black american express cards, over-sized diamonds (mined by child slaves in Angola), louis vuitton and russian oligarchs. So, imagine the relief to find a real, thriving community in the marsh. To serve customers who don't automatically assume they are better than you just because they are loaded is a blessed relief. To meet encouragement and people with serious literary interests in SE1 has also gladdened these once jaded bones. To not have to put up with lord this, lady that, sir whatever coming out of their arses has become a welcome panacea. To say I prefer the french approach to monarchy would not be too wide of the mark. Chelsea people also assume they are cleverer than you because they live in Chelsea and their great grandfather was a rapacious, capitalist pirate and you are from a working class home in Bristol - oops, did I mention class. I promise not to do it again. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE CLASS SYSTEM IN BLAIR'S BRITAIN.

SE1 is such a diverse mix of people. It's what living in a huge city is really about. Our customers have come from all classes and races, from the third generation market stall holder to the accountant to the minister at the department of health to the hairdresser to the coffee shop owner to the dressmaker to the poet to the stand-up comedian. Vive la difference.

Ranting over now.

Books. Alan Bennett for a beautiful and lyrical description of his family. Tom Wolfe for visiting the American College genre and running riot. Savoj Zizek for a great dissection of the Iraq war. Robert Caro for the finest writing about place I've ever come across. Christopher Hitchens for his essays and Chekhov, just because. That's all for now, but watch this space and subscribe to the newsletter (when it's up and running).