Being back at work when most folks are still away has benefits but also drawbacks. The lack of traffic is glorious but the lack of local cafes open for hungry business folk is not. My search for food and coffee took me up to Mt Eden this morning and, having a little more time than normal, I had a quick wander up and down the shops there and discovered the Timeout Bookshop.

Time Out is a great example of a local bookstore: unashamedly a bookshop as distinct from a shop that sells books and other things and staffed by friendly folks like Jane and her colleague whose name I didn’t get (sorry, chap). The shop isn’t big but it is piled high with a great range of books, not to mention the odd cat and even has a separate children’s section. What’s more, they are open from 9am to 9pm, run a mailing list for interested bibliophiles, have a periodic philosophy discussion group and even open their upstairs room to book and film-of-the-book clubs. I now know where I’ll be directing people who ask what’s on my birthday list.

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