Very early on in our trip we drove through Bunessan on the Isle of Mull and at the back of a charity shop we saw the sign
I love it - a 24 hour bookshops in a village of a few hundred folk, where the honesty system works perfectly according to the woman in the charity shop. Fancy finishing a book at night, then popping down the road to exchange it or buy another one for a pound, brilliant.
Simple, sensible instructions seem to make to work.
Back in Edinburgh there are grander libraries of course, and we visited the Scottish Poetry Library, fell in love with many books of poetry and found a couple more book sculptures.
Whilst we were in Wales, we drove through the village of Trecastle and stopped because it had a sign "Kingdom of Rust" so what choice did we have? On our way to visit said Kingdom, we came upon this excellent re-use of a telephone box. Not the Tardis, but close!
And in Cardiff, their Central Library is a fabulous bold building rising high above the city centre, allowing us to know where we were by keeping a lookout for it. It also had great sculpture in the forecourt.
I collected library memberships on my way it seemed, so I am now a member in both Edinburgh and Cardiff - very happy about that.
But to finish the telephone thing off, we really and truly did see the Tardis in Cardiff! As my brother put it...Tardiff.
i've been in cardiff, but it was a hundred years ago. i don't know tardiss (is that a sci-fi thing, maybe dr who or star trek?) but i do know libraries and i am so excited you got to see the anonymous sculptures! wow!
ReplyDeleteYes V the Tardis is a Dr Who thing...and yes I have loved all the library bits and discovering the sculptures in so many places - yippee!
DeleteMy daughter went to Uni in Cardiff. It was quite usual to see daleks and cybermen wandering about when they were filming
ReplyDeleteI love that there were daleks and the like a'wandering the streets of Cardiff Jac - how cool would that be!?!
DeleteLibraries in old phone boxes are a very common sight here and are generally welcomed and honoured, though just occasionally officialdom gets in the way. One village in Cambridgeshire was expected to apply to the local council for change of use under planning regulations at a cost of £400. I'm glad to say that sanity eventually prevailed and as far as I know, the library is flourishing.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to think there are more of these phone box libraries around Margaret! And how mad is that planning approval? Glad it didn't have to be that way...the more books to share the better I say? Go well.
DeleteWonderful account. Love the book sculpture and could see you hosting a 24 hr book exchange.. BUT what was in the Kinggdom of Rust?
ReplyDeleteIt is all good and wonderful Tory - the Kingdom of Rust was a big secondhand junk yard, and series of secondhand shops inside. Well worth the stop!
Deletemmmmm library love xxxxx
ReplyDeleteIndeedy indeedy indeed!
DeleteI was so in love with Tom Baker and his scarf!
ReplyDeleteHe was there as well Mo! Not him exactly, but images of him, and I could have bought a scarf!
DeleteI'm completely charmed by your photos of little libraries, Fiona, and delighted by the sighting of the Tardis. What a wonderful trip this has been. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a delightful wander Carol and the words, books and libraries have been a real highlight. Glad you have enjoyed it too. Go well.
DeleteWhen we were travelling in England we had to take a quick detour to Cardiff to browse in a special fishing shop.Unfortunately it was too quick to look for book shops.Love the library in the telephone booth!
ReplyDeleteI can understand the need for the odd detour Robyn - it happens! The library book exchange seemed the perfect re-use of a phone box, and it was so great to see. Go well.
DeleteDelights! :D
ReplyDeleteDelights indeed!
DeleteGlad to see that Cardiff delivered some quirky moments Fiona. You and Barry seem to have noticed the things that pass so many people by. I love it that you came to Wales and found these joyful things. Please return.
ReplyDeleteHi Lesley - and thank you for having us! We found some lovely things here and there as we wandered, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Talk soon!
DeleteI so seldom pop in with my 2 cents, but this pushed me to comment.What a wonderful trip! Little pieces of my heart are in Wales.And I'm off now to learn more about the Cardiff Library sculpture. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteAnd when you do pop in Dinah I take forever to reply! So sorry. It was a grand trip and we were so fortunate to see so much and catch up with friends. There were fabulous sculptures and highlights throughout Wales. Enjoy!
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