The Book Depository

Recently I needed to find a difficult to get hold of book about the first 1000 words in English. My usual first site I turn to for books Book Brain failed to help me - but I would still recommend it if you are looking for a site to help you find the cheapest place to buy a book.

Not wishing to fail, I did some more searching and came across a site I hadn't used before - the book depository. This site The Book Depository has now helped me out about three times in under 4 months to find either difficult to get hold of books or books cheaper that I can get them elsewhere.

Why am I writing about them now? Well, today, I wanted to buy Leith's Vegetarian Bible - I had been at friends' last night and they recommended it. I tried book brain again and the lowest price they offered was £19.50 (rrp £30) from Tesco or Amazon. The book depository came up with £19.23 - not a huge difference but a saving nonetheless.

I bought the book from them and decided to search the site for a loyalty scheme or something as I now felt I was using them quite a lot - didn't find that but did find a competition. Entered that and now waiting to see if I win one of my randomly chosen titles. I hope so, I like winning things, but even if I don't I will still use them, they provide a good service and, afterall, that's what I want when I buy a book.

Until next time

paul

Upstairs or downstairs

Photo from Kayodeok's bus collection on Flickr

I rarely get the bus in London preferring the pleasure and freedom of cycling. But, when I do, I always get stuck about the decision on whether to go upstairs or stay downstairs.

Upstairs gives you the opportunity of seeing the river Thames which is fantastic at night and during the day. I live south of the river, so nearly everytime I travel I get that chance of a little bit of joy. But you don't know who esle may be upstairs and that could spoil the enjoyment.

So, it's always a risk and never an easy decision. I think I'm probably at about 70% downstairs and only 30% upstairs.

Of course that's when you can actually get on or move about a London bus.

Attics can change memories

nose_job
Originally uploaded by luapscott.

My brother recently sold his flat and we needed to empty the attic. I had forgotten that I had left a bunch of photos there from my earlier years. And I had also forgotten just how long and bleached my hair was. Now it's neither long nor bleached. In fact, I'd be in more danger of burning my scalp with bleach if I was to try to do that again.

Attics eh? Can sometimes have a significant impact on memories.

BBC Learning English

I work for the BBC and I am involved with a free website for learners and teachers of English. Why not have a look at the site and let me know what you think. You can also join in with some of the discussions that you find there.

Some useful links below:

1) The main site - bbclearningenglish.com

The Blogs
1) The Student Blogger

2) The Teacher Blogger

Other Interesting Links
1) How to (a functional English online series

2) The Flatmates (an interactive online soap)

3) Talk About English - a weekly webcast

4) Talking Business (a guide to the language you need to succeed in business)

IATEFL 2007

Next week I'm at the IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language) conference in Aberdeen. I've been quite regularly in recent years but this year I decided to see if I could do a presentation.

As usual, best not to wish to hard otherwise you might get what you wish for. And I've got a presentation to a room that holds 440 people. I'd been hoping for a quiet cosy presentation to a few people, maybe even just friends but no, now, probably, either the room will be empty (which will be sad an look very sad) or the room will be full (which will be scary).

Joy!

Hello to myself

Well, I start again, this is getting a little bit like my spanish experience. I've been trying to learn spanish for over 8 years - I start, I bumble along, I stop, I think (well I like to pretend that I do) and then I start again.

I'm now on the longest period of spanish study in my life and so I've confused it by adding the hamonica (not in spanish) and blogging. But, to go back to what I was saying at the start, this isn't my first blog. The question is, will I actually continue this one or will it slowly fade away.

That's what time's for.

Somewhere in Austria

Skiing
Originally uploaded by luapscott.

Just back from skiing - is there anything else more relaxing, more enjoyable or just plain more anything than a week in the mountains with bits of wood strapped to your feet?

I don't think so.