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proved a fruitful source; theMrs Beeton and Black Beauty that followed both came from my Pilates class...
But (there’s always a but), just as it was beginning to look pretty business-like and profitable, we were posted. To the Falklands. All my kit was packed up for its long journey south. Once there and unpacked, I started again, with an advert in the only newspaper on the islands, the Penguin News. Widening the net, I did demonstrations at the craft fair, spent a day in the school creating a book from scratch, and made bespoke photo albums. Little by little, book by book, from both the military and the islanders, things picked up again.
Soon I was positively busy, and loving the satisfaction of creating beautiful things – whether it was making a tatty old book look cared for and useable, or making a beautiful photo album. I discovered something about myself – that having something tangible to show for a morning’s work actually made me feel physically and mentally better. I suppose gardening falls into this category too. I read an article recently about a city worker who spent a day learning the rudiments of stone masonry and made the same discovery about himself. Definitely something to bear in mind when considering job satisfaction.
But (there’s always another but), the Falklands was only a twelve month posting. Kit was packed up again for the three month journey home. Back in the UK, I started again. I placed more adverts in parish magazines, HIVE circulars, the Church Times (worth a try!), and made some more photo albums and note books for another craft fair...
So – it’s without doubt Career No. 2, and definitely meets those oh-so-simple criteria. Yes, it suits Service life, life with young children, the kit really is pretty minimal (phew – I hear the removals men say), and not many people do it. It is incredibly flexible. I can do ten minutes work on a book, then leave it to dry overnight, or while I walk the dog. Granted, the money coming in is in small and irregular amounts – at the moment. You couldn’t rely on it to pay the mortgage. Luckily, however, we can’t afford a mortgage, so my proposed extra pennies, although welcome, are not essential. This does take the pressure off and gives me the liberty to explore less than lucrative paths.
But (yes – there it is), now what? In any business or career one needs to keep the momentum going, so:
1. Apparently, bookworm, paperbound Luddite that I am, I need a website; a more global advertising approach. So
that’s what I’m about to tackle (any helpful suggestions much appreciated). Ironic really, for a book-mending service to be using the Internet, supposed usurper of the old-fashioned book.
2. Another course – time and money allowing. I’d like to learn to do gold lettering to broaden my skills base.
3. Keep up the local advertising. Whilst moving so often can pose difficulties for any job or career, the upside for this sort of job is that relocation provides a new clientele every few years.
4. Join another Pilates class, quick.
5. And, of course, there’s always articles like this. So if you’ve read this far and have a book that needs some TLC, I’ll just slip my contact details in here:
Susie Gibbs Book Conservation:
susiegibbs21@yahoo.co.uk or (for a year or so) 01494 563457.
Before
www.raf-ff.org.uk After
*
www.assingtonmill.com – do look it up, they do courses on beekeeping, hedge-laying, brick-laying, sheep/pig/chicken-keeping, sign-writing, cider-making, upholstery, cookery, bread-making, photography, jewellery, plumbing, fly-fishing, pruning, garden machinery maintenance, even basket weaving (although I’m told I can’t do that one until I’m formally interred in an institution). Inspired? I was!
Envoy Summer 2011 15
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