The worst of times, the best of times

One of the great things about running the bookshop is the lifestyle side of things. Essentially Nicki and I job share, splitting working in the shop with spending time at home with the kids. That's the theory anyway. The reality is lots of rushing around once the kids go to bed, having late night 'meetings' and trying to cram in all the crazy things we've got planned for the next few months. The whole thing generally works well - but last week we were all ill. Anyone who has young kids will tell you what an utter nightmare this is (why governments spend time researching into germ warfare is a mystery to me - simply expose opposing armies to gangs of sniffly toddlers and watch them drop like flies). As a family you kick into a very basic 'survival' mode. It was all a bit grim and I think I'll simply sign off on a disaster week by saying that we're all better now. And sorry a lot of email has gone unanswered... Luckily we now have some truly exceptional staff who stepped into the breach at short notice. But had we been feeling better, we would now be celebrating our nomination in the Bookseller Retail Awards for the Walker Books Children's Independent of the Year. Hooray! We wish all our fellow shortlistees the best of luck:

• The Well Wisher Bookshop
• Tales on Moon Lane
• Simply Books

Coincidentally, we've just been putting the finishing touches to a whole Summer of children's events - take a look at our updated events pages to learn more. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible...

Last minute nerves

Well, the big glitzy award ceremony is tomorrow evening. The mystery shopper reports will be in. The decision has been made. To everyone who has sent good luck messages since the shortlist was announced, our sincere thanks - we'll find out Tuesday night. Several people have popped in over the last few weeks to say that they will be there as well (I'm amazed at how many people in 'the biz' live in or around Abingdon!). If you are going, we'll be very easy to spot: the couple sitting at the table fidgeting with our hire outfits, looking ashen faced, and desperately trying not to barf up the prawn cocktail. Yep, we're a bit nervous... We've been in the papers a bit over the last couple of weeks - and I did a radio interview today on Jack FM (pop pickers). Ah, the corrosive nature of celebrity. Luckily it's bookgroup on Thursday which will allow the purifying power of books to purge me of my oversized head (I can't work out what's sadder, having to have my head deflated, or having it inflated from being on Jack FM...) Anyway, good luck to all the other people waiting on a nibbie nomination tomorrow night...