The Aardvark Blog

Christmas Thoughts 2025
14/12/2025

It is inevitable that getting towards the end of the year prompts one to be somewhat reflective, and to remember the highs and lows of the twelve months past. This year has been a year of some outstanding highs, and a number of lows, but given the political situation globally I guess one should be grateful to have got through as well as we have.

On the plus side i am particularly pleased with our events programme this year. Every single one of our markets ran without disruption from the weather, and our August Vide Grenier was the most popular flea market we have ever run. As usual the markets are enlivened by the wonderful musicians who play for us and special thanks go to Jack Brett  and Nick and the boys of Blue Moon. Always fantastic when they are at Aardvark.

Speaking of markets I was delighted that notwithstanding several local roads being impassible due to flooding, we got a fantastic turnout for last weekend's Christmas Fair. Although we were in competition with a very prestigious charity fair locally we had as busy a Christmas event as I can remember. Many thanks to the brilliant team in the kitchen and Café. Dawn, Martha, Andy, Marley and latest recruit Amelie were all amazing. 

Thanks must also be given to the fantastic stallholders who made our events through the year so special. People have been really collegial, and even when not having a brilliant day, very understanding. The truth is you never know what people will want to buy and with the exception of the Cottage Herbery who are always popular whether with plants or dried flower displays, it varies as to what people are looking for each time.

My number one event of the year however was the amazing H.Art exhibition of the works of the late ceramicist  Phil Rogers, which we put on with his wife Hajeong. I have lived with pieces by Phil in our own home for many years, but having the opportunity to spend so much time with such a range of his work was personally very fulfilling. What a tremendous loss he is to the Studio Ceramic world, but how brilliant it is that Hajeong oversaw a new edition of his magisterial work on Ashglazes.

In other highlights of the year I have managed to acquire some truly fantastic titles, and the history and literature sections in particular have never been better. Our ongoing relationships with publishers have also yielded some extraordinary books, and it has been difficult at times to stop myself from taking more of them home with me. My shelves at our new digs are already groaning and  most of the books have not found their way out of boxes yet. Speaking of which I had a prodigal son moment the other day when I came across a box which had wrongly landed up buried at the back of the Aardvark warehouse. It contained two wonderful ceramics by friend of Aardvark Shannon Donovan ( who came to see us during this year's H.Art) and my copy of the poems of W B Yeats in the extraordinary Althea Gyles binding - see right. This is one of my favourite books and it is now sitting awaiting the promised poetry shelves that Ethel has demanded as part of our move. Shannon's 'Gas' ceramics are now  hanging on our freshly painted walls.

But the year has not been all highs and amongst the losses have been the passing of a number of favourite customers. Some of these I have already mentioned, but news of others has come in over the last month or so. It is a fact of life that to use irritating modern parlance 'we are all on a journey',  but the secret sauce that makes being a bookseller the greatest job on the planet, is the shear pleasure one gains from the interactions with customers. They will be missed.

And finally don't forget that books make the most brilliant presents imaginable and we are open everyday ( except Mondays ) until 4pm on Christmas Eve. I promise to give you one of my renowned 'Ho, Ho, Hos' , although whether this is a plus I will leave you to decided.