Saturday, 24 March 2012

A Dozen Good Reasons Why Boot Sales Are A Good Thing!


Yours truly in action (Barbecues are definitely a 'man' thing)  - judging by the smoke it is very much a 'can you tell what it is yet?' moment! NB No chicken drumsticks or sausages were harmed during the staging of this picture....;-)


 Today has been magnificent! To begin with I had the word from Dave Ryan of Caliver Books that the Minifigs warships are at last available again (see my previous post) - a fact of which I am both highly delighted and very proud about! The weather has been magnificent and so we finished the day with a very unseasonal barbeque - I kid you not and there is even photographic evidence available for the less than convinced!

The best bit by far though was the fist visit of the year to the Saturday variant of the Sunday 'Lazybones' boot sale. Regular readers of the blog will no doubt have seen numerous posts over the last couple of years where I have picked up the odd treasure or two at any one of a number of boot sales in our area. Sometimes you do not get a thing; sometimes for several weeks in a row. I have been very fortunate overall and could be well satisfied with my successes thus far but today was the best ever. I am still in something of a state of shock at my good fortune so will let the pictures do the talking for a change!


All four volumes of the acclaimed Battles and Leaders


Three volumes from the Cassell's History of Warfare series


Both volumes of Peter Hofschroer's history of the Waterloo campaign from the Prussian perspective


Finally the Crusades, American Revolution and some battles from the Bible

With the exception of the Battles of the Bible all of these are hardback and in pretty much pristine condition. They all came from the same seller and the cost of this shelf full of books came in at a measly - pausing to pinch myself as I am still struggling to get my head around it - £13.50!

All I need to do now is to find somewhere to park this little lot!





















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28 comments:

  1. Mosstrooper24 March 2012 at 18:58

    What a brilliant find the ACW books are brilliant

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  2. Bluebear Jeff24 March 2012 at 19:30

    What a wonderful find, sir. I am happy for you.


    -- Jeff

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  3. Robert (Bob) Cordery24 March 2012 at 19:34

    David,

    You have done extremely well with your purchases today. What an excellent collection of books ... and all bought for the cost of a couple of cheap paperbacks!

    Enjoy reading them.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  4. David Crook24 March 2012 at 20:28

    Hi Mosstrooper,

    Without a doubt they are 'jewels in the crown' for this batch and I would have expected to pay at least £13.50 for just one let alone the four!

    All the best,

    DC

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  5. David Crook24 March 2012 at 20:41

    Hi Jeff,

    Many thanks sir! I am feeling rather smug at the moment!

    All the best,

    DC

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  6. David Crook24 March 2012 at 20:46

    Hi Bob,

    I was really pleased with the Battles and Leaders as I have been after these for an age. £4 for the set is pretty good value in anybodies language!

    I will need to free up another shelf though so but that is pleasant dilemma to have.

    All the best,

    DC

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  7. Jim Duncan Wargamer24 March 2012 at 21:13

    What a set of bargains DC, well done.

    Jim

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  8. David Crook24 March 2012 at 21:27

    Hi Jim,

    We are off to another boot sale tomorrow so lets hope today has set a pleasant precedent!

    All the best,

    DC

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  9. Geordie an Exiled FoG24 March 2012 at 23:15

    That post has just got me banned from car boot sales by the wife!

    Good haul David

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  10. Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com25 March 2012 at 02:26

    Oh well done! You can park Volumes 2,3,4 of Battles and Leaders on my bookshelves if you are short on space :)

    It looks like good hunting!

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  11. Tim Gow25 March 2012 at 10:15

    Result! Not sure about those sandals though.....

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  12. Paul O'G25 March 2012 at 12:03

    Cracking Barbie and finds alike! I took a leaf out of your book recently and grabbed up a swag of books (including one for you) - More to follow!

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  13. David Crook25 March 2012 at 14:28

    Hi Geordie,

    The really good thing for me about boot sales is that any purchases are not classed as being from any budget....;-)

    I am sure that if you persuaded Mrs Geordie that she would be able to pick up some bargains for herself then you would be good to go!

    All the best,

    DC

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  14. David Crook25 March 2012 at 14:30

    Hi Ross,

    Luckily I have managed to find to find some spare shelf space so all four volumes will be staying put!

    Many thanks for the generous offer though....;-)

    All the best,

    DC

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  15. David Crook25 March 2012 at 14:32

    Hi Tim,

    Those sandals have been a faithful companion over many of my Mediterranean excursions but are now relegated to garden duties. I thought they were rather stylish but sadly SWMBO had other ideas!

    All the best,

    DC

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  16. David Crook25 March 2012 at 14:33

    Hi Paul,

    The BBQ was probably not up to Aussie standards (apart from the quantity of beer consumed) but I take the honourable tradition very seriously!

    A book for moi? I am very interested - do tell!

    All the best,

    DC

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  17. Peter Douglas25 March 2012 at 15:14

    DC

    I am jealous of both your attire (we're still a ways from short'n'sandals weather) and your bargains! We are having a very mild spring and the snow has gone so I am hoping to fire up the barbie and grill red meat over an open flame like my forefathers!

    Cheers

    PD

    PS If you want the true man experience try a beer can chicken (as a celiac I have to use cider but you obviously don't suffer from the limitation)

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  18. Sean25 March 2012 at 15:19

    Fantastic finds. I think my wife would take issue with me bringing home so many books.

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  19. David Crook25 March 2012 at 15:27

    Hi Peter,

    It is very mild at present although I do not expect it to last! Cooking outside is great fun and the libation is essential to maintain that manly persona!

    Beer can chicken? I like the sound of that!

    All the best,

    DC

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  20. David Crook25 March 2012 at 15:28

    Hi Sean,

    When I pointed out to SWMBO that there was over £300 worth of book for £13.50 even she had to admit it was a bargain!

    All the best,

    DC

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  21. Peter Douglas25 March 2012 at 16:17

    DC

    There's various recipes around but the link here gives the general idea
    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/the-surreal-gourmet/beer-can-chicken-recipe/index.html

    It has three things going for it
    1. It's fairly easy (you just set it up and let it go)
    2. It tastes great (very moist yet with crispy skin)
    3. It looks flipping ridiculous!

    PD

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  22. David Crook25 March 2012 at 16:29

    Hi Peter,

    Many thanks for the link - it certainly looks the part and is one I shall look forward to trying in due course.

    All the best,

    DC

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  23. Paul O'G26 March 2012 at 06:18

    I can also recommend the beer can chicken as excellent cuisine!

    Think I'll keep the book as a surprise - keep you eye on the mailbox in a few weeks time!

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  24. David Crook26 March 2012 at 10:16

    Hi Paul,

    I will certainly do so! Many thanks old chap - and for the recommendation!

    All the best,

    DC

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  25. Sidney Roundwood26 March 2012 at 10:34

    Good Lord, David. £13.50 ... that's ...errr...pounds sterling? What a result. Bravo. And the barbecue looks great as well!

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  26. David Crook26 March 2012 at 10:56

    Hi Sydney,

    Pounds sterling it is! The BBQ was great although having one in March seems wrong somehow!

    All the best,

    DC

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  27. The Angry Lurker28 March 2012 at 08:11

    Dammit you did well, really well, is it okay to feel jealous!

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  28. David Crook28 March 2012 at 09:03

    Hi Angry,

    It most certainly is! I like to think of it as the wargamers boot sale equivalent of a hole-in-one!

    All the best,

    DC

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