Kismet is the only thing you can say about AJOBookbinding it only came about through a conversation with a regular customer Eileen Jinks a lady that would frequent my old shop at Warners Bay

some years ago. When browsing my shop for books Eileen would mention to me that her brother was a bookbinder, to which I always replied “I would like to meet him.” Eventually Eileen said she would

tell her brother Rob. On the appointed day Rob drove Eileen down & I got to meet a real live bookbinder. I didn’t realise at that time that I would make such a good friend & mentor.

Over the next 5 years Rob happily instructed me in the art of book repair & bookbinding.

Things change as do & the next piece of luck was a chance encounter with a bookbinder his name by the way is Mark Jarman with over 35 years experience came in looking for work.

I’d been collecting tools and materials over those last five years & with the equipment Mark had it seemed like the perfect idea, open a bookbindery in Morisset in the twentieth century Isaac Asimov

wouldn’t dream of that, but yes that’s what we did. The birth of a new business AJOBookbinding

Over 100 years experience at AJOBookbinding

Using old world tools AJO Bookbinding

Bookbinding is an old world art using tools from past centuries, but tools very similar to the ones I learned to use in my youth working as a carpenter & joiner, when Rob said he would be happy to teach me a little about bookbinding, I took to it like a duck to water

AJOBookbinding for your bookbinding needs

Whether you want an old paperback repaired a family Bible or a thesis you just completed that book you’ve just finished & you need someone to take from a pile of paper

to a finished book that’s just briefly what we do. We take you wants dreams & turn them from a pile of paper to a finished book. AJOBookbinding takes great pride in seeing

peoples written dreams turned into a book that can sit on your shelf

Finding AJOBookbinding

Were only 2 minutes from the F3 Freeway see map AJOBookbinding

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used books Maitland markets

Our bookshop always has lots of fantastic used books, and it no use keeping them on our shelves so we decided to do a few markets over the next couple of months. For you that means you can get a great value used book at a market near you. For our first foray into the market scene, we have chosen the biggest local market Maitland & one closer to home Morisset not quite as big an easy one for us. Their are always many people selling used books at markets.

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It’s the soldier, not the reporter
who has given us freedom of the press.

It’s the soldier, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It’s the soldier, not the campus organizer,
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It’s the soldier, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It’s the soldier who salutes the flag, serves under the flag and
whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who gives the protestor the right to burn the flag.

~~ Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, USMC

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Talk about freaky Friday it was that indeed it sees me sorting used books you know the best used books for the internet and the bookshop the rest go to a charity then the bin, rather like John West and his Sockeye Salmon, informing customers that their used books arrived, cleaning the floor all those mundane tasks that have to be done working in a secondhand bookshop, but important nevertheless.

An interesting request for used books

Around 10.00am I received a call about a used book “You have used books? “Yes” Do you have this book in stock?” “Yes.” “Can you send it to Melbourne it has to arrive Saturday.” “I think I can do that.” Ten minutes later after Goggling the term overnight parcel delivery with a quote of over $100 in hand I rang my customer back yes I can do that. Now to ring the courier to arrange the details, only to be told that the price was now $220 that is nearly twice what was I quoted. Back on the phone to explain my predicament to the customer, with the response that, okay it has to be here, so yes go ahead with it. Now I have everything right it is back to the courier only to be told that is not the price, the price is now over $400 dollars. What do I do now I I had already committed to send the book I really could not go back on my word.

Lateral thinking or just lunatic about used books

Google is right in front of me why don’t I check, the airfares a quick look tells me I can get a flight that leaves first thing Saturday morning  is back just after lunch not much time for anything else but he’ll get the book. “bugger it why not”. I was talking about this very thing on another website yesterday what is the law of abundance in action?

At 4.00 am next morning in the car dodging a kangaroo wow that was close. I’m on the road to Williamtown airport into the car park check in sit down and read guess what one of my used books and flight goes smoothly I’m in Melbourne by 7.30am. I just have to wait for Adam to meet me in due course we meet I give him the book we have a brief chat but its cold down here and he is on a Harley and probably chilled to the bone no time for chit chat. All I have to do now is wait for my flight back to Newcastle home and the used bookshop.

Now about used books this particular one, if you’ve got this far you deserve to know the title, well if you want to know then give me a call I can’t give everything away now can I. The main thing about it was that it was important to the new owner they simply had to have this used book it.

So remember if you ever need used books and I have it or it’s around Newcastle or Australia and you want it delivered to anywhere I don’t care I’m up for a challenge. Give me a call 0447330911. I’ll do almost anything to deliver one our used books that someone wants, provided its legal.

whatever it takes for used books

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Hunter Street Newcastle

Some decisions made for the betterment of the citizens of Newcastle & surrounding locations amaze me, truly they are astonishing in their stupidity. The absolute best one is the Mall in Hunter St Newcastle. From the first day that it opened it has seen the demise of Hunter St as a meeting point for all Novocastrains. Not to mention all of the businesses that have closed and moved out of Newcastle over the years.

Instead now we have satellite shopping centres. Did the councillors of the day cop payoff’s for this disintegration of Hunter Street as a shopping centre and destination? I remember how good was it to go out on either Friday or Saturday night, then after the movie at the drive-in you could take your girl or whatever it was, into one of the cafe’s Hunter st and cap off a fun night out and maybe get lucky. Why Bob Hudson even wrote a songabout it. The Newcastle Song.

 Another stupid idea is the Fernleigh Track it used to be a rail line for the mines at Belmont how easily could this have been converted to a light rail from Belmont to Adamstown for not much extra you could have made a path beside the railway. It was closed in the 1970′s when fuel was cheap, traffic jambs only happened in the big smoke.

Sydney, Australia

But no all the so called experts wanted to pander to the minority that just wanted a walking track. Strike me pink!

Then you’ve got the Fassifern to Toronto line same deal there as well. Toronto is one of the prettiest spots on Lake Macquarie with the old rail cottage beside the lake the old pub on the top of the hill a link to the past. I can understand why they wanted to remove the line across Carey St but really how simple would it make commuting to Newcastle or elsewhere from Toronto and remember rail is supposed to be the cheapest from of transport.

The next and probably most important decision that has been under discussion for several years is removing the rail line from Broadmeadow to Newcastle. Now the people that want this to happen should look around the rest of the world. Can you imagine these guys planing the design of the railways in Paris or New York? They would probably stop all rail to town centers and force commuters into buses. Come on, what country in the world does this? Its time for government for the people not for the special interest groups pushing there greedy little agendas.

All we have is small minded people making decisions that effect thousands of people for generations, we need a visionary, an expert making decisions for the future. We don’t need these chintzy little despots rolling out four lane freeways we need someone with “Cojones.” Can you imagine the designers of today building the Sydney Harbour Bridge, my guess is it would have been two lanes at most.

What you may ask is a bookseller from Morisset moaning & whingeing for? It really started from me looking for hard to find titles about the history of Newcastle & surronding areas, from Argenton to Yarrawonga Park. I’m always looking to buy Local histories in excellent condition for customers that want these titles.

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Last competition for 2010

Welcome to our last book giveaway for 2010 in this competition you have a chance to win from the ozzbooks bookshop at Morisset

3 Classic Novels

1. The Catcher in the Rye J D Salinger
2. In Cold Blood Truman Capote
3. A Clock Work Orange Anthony Burgess

I’ve always wanted to read these 3 classics, but I’ve got to many books on the go now, I want someone else to enjoy them. Here’s your chance to win these books. All you have to do is enter this competition for your chance to win. If you would like more chances then link to our Facebook, Twitter & our OzzBooks Blog for every one of these sites you follow you will have a one chance to win this competition.

Bonus Entries completing these simple tasks

Follow our ozzbooks blog…………………………………………………one extra chance to win
Follow Lake Macquarie Secondhand Books on Facebook………….one extra chance to win
Follow us on Twitter LakeMacUsedBook……………………………….one extra chance to win
Provide a Link to our Book Giveaway on Your Blog…………………….two extra chances to win

Closing Date

Entries are open until 5pm EST on Monday 19 th December. The competition is open to residents of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA and the UK. The winner of the competition will be announced on Wednesday 22 th December.

Merry Christmas to everyone

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Coffee & Friends

After I finish work I usually go straight home, but sometimes I call into the local shopping center at Bonnells Bay to buy supplies for lunch or dinner, every now and then I run into my friends chilling out having a chat, having a cappuccino or a healthy snack. The usual suspects today were Jan & Steve, Russ.

Fun Conversations

Most afternoons there is talk of people that we knew from long ago, it could be people we know that walk past at various times. The subjects can be anything from automobiles or aphrodisiacs through to the Oak milk bar at Peats Ridge or bandit chasing truck drivers. Now me being a shameless used book dealer always seem to turn the talk around to books, I guess I’m like Billy Fields I can’t help myself “Bad Habits” (1981). Nearly everyone that I talk to reads some sort of book whether it’s a stick mag or a simple western, and if they don’t perhaps I can find something for them to start on, what you read doesn’t matter so much as that you read. You could be like Gary Cooper who admitted to reading only 10 books in his whole life but he was probably busy with the girls.

The things we do

This little group bring a world of experience from many diverse jobs, nurses & AIN’s, undertakers, auto body builders, motorcycle mechanics, crane & dozer drivers, drovers, butchers retired teachers carpenters joiners, bricklayers and laborers. Now with this cast of these characters there is no shortage of things to talk about, many jokes plenty of tall tales and sometimes true, but I can tell you an hour goes very fast indeed, to get your two cents worth you cannot hold back.

Ying & Yang

For me this has some side effects that can be good and bad the good always out do the bad, the thorny ones you have to endure. Very often I’m asked to find books. The good is I find books that people want this is great when it goes to plan everyone is happy.

About a book

But the rare failures are another story, I will share this one with you. It’s about a book called “I Just Want to be a Jockey: the Arthur Lister Story” by Helen Lister. I was asked to find it by a friend and I naturally thought it was an older book but I tracked it down through a larger book seller who I no longer deal with.

Success & Failure

I relayed the price of $100.00 to my friend. He said “terrific get it” so it was ordered and a short time later it was delivered, imagine my surprise when later he told me he could buy the same book at a local shop for $28.00 result one very upset ex friend, that I see nearly every day. I suppose at least he hasn’t taken me for a drive down to Charmhaven yet & I won’t be in a hurry to go anyway.

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Morisset Library 39 Yambo st Morisset

About the Library

Even though I work in a secondhand bookshop I quite often go to libraries to look at their range of books including talking books & CD’s. I’m lucky enough to work and live in the town of Morisset. Plus I always look to see the books they have for sale you never know where you will find that little gem.

Where its at

Our local library is located at 39 Yambo Street, close to the railway easy walking distance to the shops. Morisset is a growing part of the much greater area of Lake Macquarie. a great place good schools friendly people a fantastic lake and all this close to the F3 freeway

The places I go besides the Library

In my pursuit of all things books rare and used alike, my journey takes me to many areas in the Hunter Valley just a few of the areas close by include Nelson Bay Raymond Terrace to the north, Maitland, Kurri Kurri and Cessnock in the west, and to the south Gosford, Wyong & Woy Woy. I also travel to further afield to appraise and advise on the best way to either sell single books or larger collections, family heirlooms & deceased estates. All negotiations are treated with the utmost respect.

A great place to live

Living where I do has many advantages firstly its about as close to Sydney as any sane person would want. Some of the events at Morisset library are listed below. Have a look at their blogspot for more current events.

• Books and Bickies Group
• Book Reviews
• Featured Authors
• Living Book Program

Attend a Public Forum: and Have Your Say on Library Services at Morisset Library Wednesday 24 November 6.ooPM 39 Yambo Street

Remember if you need to own the books you read, you don’t need a library, that’s where our business comes in , we can help you at Lake Macquarie Secondhand Books

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Some late new was we have finally got some heating elements for the Nebitype lead type caster, it should be going in the next week or so we can’t wait.

Seeing that Rob is a bookbinder I had a few repairs on books that needed some attention, he also took a load of Readers Digest condensed books, some timber for his new project, stay tuned.

My next customer was Lucy the shell lady a very lively lady indeed an authority on seashells of all types, a book she had ordered had finally arrived Mollusca: Elements Of Conchology (1843) a facsimile copy

Late in the afternoon I had to look at some more books, so more on that later.

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Stolen ATM in Dora St Morisset

In my normal job I get to meet a very diverse lot of people from train drivers, to travelers coming and going, but the main thing in common most of these people have is they are all in Morisset, mostly talking to me about used books either mine & they want it or theirs and they want to sell it to me or telling me about a rare or antiquarian book, they may even ask to value it for them that’s good too.

But there are many other things going on around Morisset and Lake Macquarie. Lake Macquarie is one of the fastest growing cities around the Hunter. Morisset is situated at the south-western side of Lake Macquarie, 112 km north of Sydney via the Newcastle Freeway and 33 m above sea-level. West of the town are huge tracts of state forest. To the east, the area’s coastline is a haven of long, sun-drenched beaches, sheltered coves, towering cliffs and natural bushland. Morisset is a mix of resort and residential housing.

The electrification of the train line between Sydney and Newcastle, the construction of the F3 Freeway and the completion of the Eraring Power Station in 1984 have all contributed to the growth of the local economy. Situated close to the major population centres of Newcastle, the Central Coast and Sydney, Morisset presents an abundance of leisure opportunities.

To the active traveller in search of prime bushwalking or climbing terrain, this is adventure country par excellence. Horse-riding is also popular and there are numerous riding establishments that offer rides along wilderness bushland trails. Morisset also has an excellent golf course in Dora St the main road of Morisset and it in addition hosts a spring show and craft fair in September and an agricultural show in February. The Morisset markets are held at the showground Ourimbah St on the 1st Saturday of the month.

Lately Morisset has been inundated with major building works the upgrade of the local railway station & commuter car park, it has also just got a second set of traffic lights, now we have Coles & Woolworths will soon open their doors along with other specialty shops at the new shopping center.

Soon of to Mongolia

Why just the other day I had an inquiry about a book called Lonely Planet Mongolia, JO “yes I do” customer “will you hold it for me?” JO “yes fine.” After a couple of false starts we finally met, a fellow on a motorcycle it was a.

Kawasaki Tengai 650cc an oldie but a goodie. He is planing to go from China to Russia through Mongolia on his bike but he said that there is a lot of planing involved, but you can tell he is one of those quite capable men that will accomplish his task with a quite determination.

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