24/05/2026
First of all lots of thank you's! To my neighbours for the loan of the gazebo, to Roslin Masonic Lodge for the loan of the tables, to my friends for keeping me company, but most of all to all of you who came along to browse books and take some home. Not only was it lovely to be able to meet and chat with you, but you've freed up some much needed space in my house.
Now my apology. I totally over scheduled myself this week (physio, opticians, U3A and two full day shifts stewarding Roslin Thru A Lens on top of all my usual stuff) and that means that while I've been through all the boxes of adult books and cross referenced them against my spreadsheet, I've not started on the Children's Books. I did manage to go to the Glencorse Centre and update the bookshelf (still no idea what happened to my sign) and the Little House has been refilled but there is no White Box as yet. I will be heading up to Penicuik Cricket Club today to check their shelves. Hopefully this week I'll get through the children's books or, at the very least, enough of them to put the White Box back out.
BTW, it may not look like the total number of books has gone down much (my current total is 240 rehomed during the destash) but I did sort through and add 2 boxes of books from my garage that I'd been putting off and have had a few donations since last weekend. I do expect the number to change again once I've worked through the Children's books.
Lastly,
This week's photos are:
The usual ones of the shelves
My shelf in The Glencorse Centre
All boxes will be outside every day weather permitting. I take them inside around 5pm or dusk, whichever is earlier.
I do check the books in the little house late afternoon each day (weather permitting) and top up/replace any taken, so there should always be a full selection to browse.
The book donation situation: the total inside my house is 708 (not including 2 bags).
For details of the precautions taken to ensure the books are not contaminated in any way, please see the 'about' section of the page.
The Little Free Library is outside my house (6 Minstrel Court) on the left hand side.
Feel free to take any you want. I do not want them back - although if you have a Christmas themed book I'll be happy to have them back once read so that I can use them again next year - otherwise feel free to keep, pass to someone else or return if you prefer to, I can always reuse them.
Let me know if there's an author, title or genre you'd like me to try and include and I'm more than happy to deliver a book/books, locally, to you if you can't get out.
If, when you are round and about, you visit Auchendinny, I have a bookshelf in The Glencorse Centre and there is a "little free library" in the Phone Box at the bottom of The Brae (which has been repainted and revamped by Penicuik's Men's Shed), in Bilston there are two book boxes just inside the gate of Bilston Community Garden, the phone box in Penicuik, outside The Storehouse, has been painted and kitted out and is now stocking books. There's also a bookcase in Pentland Plants Cafe but that isn't free - they request a donation to their chosen charity.
If you plan to leave books at any of these locations, please don't overload them - maybe check first if there is room.
PS I also have copies of Roslin Rambles available for £1. If you want to buy one, just comment below and I'll arrange it.
