The Hoonaloon Books 2011 Sale

The Hoonaloon Books Pre-Xmas Sale 2011 has just begun.

During the period 1 Nov 2011 - 27 Nov 2011, all the books we sell via ABE books will be discounted by  20% !

Please note that this offer only applies to books sold by us via ABE sites (www.abebooks.com, www.abebooks.co.uk etc ) and that prices shown on those sites have already been discounted - all you have to do is make your selection and place your order.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.

Hedgehog Finds Fame

More observant visitors to this blog may have noticed that many of our forays into topicality are embellished with likenesses of a young and possibly wayward hedgehog, Reggie.

As previously explained (See `Welcome to Angel Pavement`, this blog, 19 June 2010), the original Reggie was rehabilitated and returned to the wild some time ago, like a small, spiky version of the lioness Elsa in `Born Free`.

His likeness appears in this blog principally to stop us taking ourselves too seriously and also to add a touch of cheer when it`s needed, such as after my most recent post.

Although Reggie himself is, I like to think, roaming the wilds of Bournmouth, he will be present in spirit only at Woodbridge Library (Suffolk) during August , when library helper Jeannie has asked to use his picture to illustrate some stories of hers which she will be reading at two Stories for Children events there.

Although no actual hedgehogs will be present on the day(s), the Stories for Children events will take place on Aug 2 at 3.00 and Aug 30 at 11.00 at Woodbridge Library, New St, IP12 1DT. 

"Let`s keep our libraries alive, open and different !" says Jeannie, which is as good a rallying call as you could hope for.

Asbestos Support

As I`ve mentioned before, my oldest friend Chris died of Mesothelioma during 2009, the result of contact with asbestos whilst working as a roofer in younger days.

For that reason, I like to give fairly regular plugs to Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team and to  Action Mesothelioma Day, which falls on the first Friday of July.

DAST`s name is actually a tad misleading as they are now based in Chesterfield (Yorkshire) and provide services throughout the East Midlands.

The group can be contacted at www.asbestossupport.co.uk.

My previous articles on the subject may be of some interest. They are ;

Saint Elsewhere - this blog, 22 July 2010

Asbestos Awareness and Advocacy ; For Chris  - The Graphophone  (blog), 19 April 2010

Asbestos Again - Bookshelves and Brown Ale (blog), 3 July 2010

Welcome to Angel Pavement - this blog, 19 June 2010.

Meanwhile, Back in the States ... #2

Young American Channing Kennedy has attracted attention among the doughty denizens of the online world with two recent articles about libraries.

To find out more, see my article `Mr Kennedy goes to the Library` (13 June 2011) at http://webdub.blogspot.com.

More Coastguards

The coastguards campaign (see past articles) has turned unexpectedly acrimonious, as this article illustrates ;

Sam Lister - Coastguards `Were not Gagged`, 25 May 2011 at www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk .

Bolton Libraries Camaign

Without wanting to spend too much time on the same few issues, here`s an interesting article ;

Unsigned - 15,00 Join fight to Save Libraries, 21 May 2011 at www.theboltonnews.co.uk .

Regional Round-Up and Miscellaneous Updates

Demands on my time and energy are getting to be a bit much at present, so please excuse the brevity of these postings. In an ideal world I would present your enraptured gaze with a collection of gleaming literary pearls, complete with the effective use of bathos, pathos and irony. Sadly, I`m much too busy for that, so these entries are fairly minimalist ;

NORTH YORKS - Save North Yorks Libraries

Joe Willis - Public Outcry Forces North Yorkshire County Council to Reconsider Library Plans, 5 May 2011 at www.thenorthernecho.co.uk .

This news has met with an understandably cautious response from the campaign group. Further comment can be found on their website.

NORTH YORKS - North Yorks Waste Action Group

This group are currently waiting for the company Amey Cespa to submit a planning application before taking any further action.  In the meantime, they are asking those who`ve not already done so to visit their site and sign the petition. 

AMBER VALLEY - Amber Valley Against Incinerators

Unsigned - Campaigners Fuming as Waste Plant Gets Permit, 13 April 2011  at www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk .

AMBER VALLEY - Lodge House/Smalley Action group

Chris Mallett - Stud Manager`s Fury as UK Coal Tells Her to Buy Farm or Move, 14 March 2011 at www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk .

Chris Mallett - Concerns Over Noise Lead to Objection About Coal-Mining Plan, 22 April 2011 at www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk .

The latter article follows a decision by Amber Valley Borough Council planning committee to object to the proposed extension of Lodge House mine after hearing submissions from Nigel Mills MP and Cllr Kevin Parkinson, both of whom oppose UK Coal`s plans. 

SPONDON AND SINFIN - Spondon and Sinfin Against Incineration and others

Chris Mallett - Now Gasification Firm Heads for Court to Fight City Planning Rejection, 5 May 2011 at www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE - Emergency Services Campaigns

Fire Service  ;   Dom Howell - Stations to Stay Open for a Year Says Authority Member, 2 March 2011 at www.thisisnottingham.co.uk .

Police Service  ;  Unsigned - Police Station Closure Fears After Front Counters Shut,  28 April 2011 at www.eastwoodadvertiser.co.uk .

That`s all for now !