Do you know how many copies of ‘Kidnapped’ had been sold before twelve noon on the last Tuesday of December 1999? Who is the reclusive cousin-in-law of Charles Dickens’ nephew, or how many full stops appeared in the first (hardback) edition of ‘The Philosopher’s Stone? No? Well we were all just as stumped by most of the questions posed at the quiz last night as part of the Watersones Christmas ‘do’, but that didn’t stop us from having a jolly good time. No prizes, just prestige, to the winning team of Carolyn & Co., who were able, collectively, to summon up the most obscure of facts and figures, or maybe just to guess better than the rest of us.
But it wasn’t all frivolity; prior to the cognitive jousting, it was (nearly) standing room only as we settled down to listen to a very informative talk by Caron, Manager of Waterstones in Ayr, on what was out there on the shelves, tempting purchase. Each theme, plot or narrative presented, seemed even more appealing than its predecessor, so much so, that in the rush to keep them all in mind, it is now difficult to recall any one in particular. Suffice to say, there was something there for everyone and, with a festive 10% discount on offer, at a price more likely to prise open the purse strings than usual.
Just to add to the flow of intellectual juices, there was wine and soft drinks in abundance, together with a plentiful supply of nibbles. All in all, the event was a resounding success, and, were it to be repeated in the future, it would surely be a ‘must attend’ for all those otherwise occupied this year.
A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to one and all!
Dorothy Gallagher