At the heart of Busy Corner Books is a simple, cherished memory.

In August 2007, about a quarter of a mile from our newly purchased countryside cottage, at the end of a long, unmade muddy lane, lined with daffodils, hogweed, and foxgloves, there was a small fork in the road—a triangle of grass pointing towards the village.

It was there we would often meet villagers while walking our dog, sharing casual, sometimes wonderfully bizarre conversations. Coming from the city, this kind of connection felt both friendly and strangely new.

Barrie and I would share updates on our cottage renovation, while learning how Mrs Woodstone had lost her hat last week, what we should do when the farmers young bullocks escaped from their field, how many hares have been spotted today, how to help an egg-bound egg whether we had onevor not, and to watch out for the rather unfriendly pheasant who has now taken to chasing strangers away.

Conversations would pause with quiet excitement—

"Look… a buzzard… a barn owl… a deer… a badger…"

There was something comforting about it all, with just a hint of the surreal. It felt like a ill-mannered not to stop and talk.

And so, Barrie and I affectionately named this place Busy Corner.

From that shared humble space of connection… Busy Corner Books was born.

And so, from our small corner of the world, from everyone, badgers, owls and all, at Busy Corner Books, all the very best.