Well, bugger!

[mandragora]

So, I was just about to leave the office tonight to meet a friend when he rang me. No can do on the meeting-up front because he has to arrest a ship.

How do you arrest a ship I (possibly) hear you ask. Why, by nailing the warrant to the mast, of course. Well, actually, not that many ships have wooden masts nowadays, so the warrant has to be 'afixed' to the mast. Yeah, I have heard Sellotape mentioned...

The thing is, when it comes to ships you have to move *fast* because if you don't nab the ship whilst it's in port it will sail out of the jurisdiction of the court and you've missed your chance. And why arrest the ship? Oh, it's all to do with money, of course, often over cargo disputes. Suffice it to say, my friend's weekend has just gone walkies.

Instead I decided to wander over to the West End, where we were going to meet anyway and go to Forbidden Planet as it's been a while since I've visited. The pilgrimage visit was successful, bought a few (only half a dozen or so) books. Then back to Leicester Square, via Murder One, which is the *other* science-fiction orientated bookshop in London.

Only to find - oh woe! - that Murder One is closing down. And soon. Alas, alack. The crime section is moving to a new location but the science-fiction section is closing for good. Which is a real pity, seeing as they often got the new books before Forbidden Planet. Even if they did charge more for them.

The only plus point is they're having a 30% off all books closing down sale. The sale started on 16 April, so a lot has gone already but they still have all the shelves and tables stacked full of books. There were some bloody good books there, too, although some of my favourites had completely sold out. But I did get a new Judith Tarr and a couple of other books I fancied giving a try. So, get yourselves down there this weekend - otherwise it will be too late - if you want to make a last visit and save 30% off all of their books.

Comments

[akaspeedo.livejournal.com]

Arresting a ship sounds like a very sf thing to do, all by itself ;)

[katemonkey.livejournal.com]

When are they closing down? 'cause I'm in London on Thursday and, seriously, that's a hit.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

*g* It does, doesn't it. And every shipping lawyer I know always get a real kick out of saying that they're off the arrest a ship. Even if the reality is the rather more prosiac emergency application to the court for an arrest order.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

It's possible that they'll be still open on Thursday, but the signs were all saying 'this is the last week', so it is possible that this weekend will be it.

I'm not sure of the last date, unfortunately. They are on the phone, though, if you want to ring them and find out. Tel: 020 7734 3483

[temaris.livejournal.com]

Rats. Into town tomorrow then. *sigh*

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

I know. I was gutted when I realised it wasn't just a 30% off sale (to which my immediate reaction was 'yippee!') but an *actual closing down sale*.

Why, oh why are they abandoning us?

[akaspeedo.livejournal.com]

Yes, well, when I think of the literal meaning of "arrest," all the galmur wears off *g*.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Yes, although I do get a giggle at imagining the Boys in Blue swarming round some supertanker and looking for the place to put the hancuffs on...

[jacquez.livejournal.com]

Arresting a ship! What a marvelous concept. *stuffs it in pocket for later use*

It is always sad to lose a bookstore, though. :(

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Arresting a ship! What a marvelous concept.

Oh it is, it is. And the vast majority of shipping lawyers are men, so you can just imagine the relish with which they say that they're off to arrest a ship, can't you. Men!

On the bookshop front, they're just moving over the road but to smaller premises, hence why the science-fiction department is closing down. Which was, naturally, my favourite section. Sigh. Ah, well at least it's not a total loss for the crime and romance lovers.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to add, I took a look at their website:
http://www.murderone.co.uk/anews.html

And they say that they're going to carry on with the science-fiction/fantasy section by mail order. It's not the same as nipping in and browsing, though.

There's no definite date on the closing BTW from what I could see on the website.

[katemonkey.livejournal.com]

I'll have to check it out then...*fingers crossed*

[temaris.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about this selltotaping the warrant to the mast business. Maybe they should consider a staple gun? Sort of the right macho quotient, whilst still usable against thinner panels of metal.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Laughing helplessly. Oh my God, you-- you, librarian, you! I have a sneaking suspicion that they use something a little more durable than Sellotape in reality. Maybe Superglue. ;)

[temaris.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Superglue leads to accidents. Waitaminute. This wouldn't be Mr. 'It's okay, Mandragora's a lesbian', would it? Because he'd probably end up stapling his own tie to the mast. Or worse.

Maybe he should try ribbon *g*.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

You've got the right person (although he's actually not my only shipping lawyer friend) and I agree that if he actually did the, er, arresting it would be a recipe for disaster. But as a lawyer he doesn't actually *serve* the order - we have process servers for that, you know. Let them get thumped, not the lawyers! We lawyers are many things but totally stupid doesn't tend to be one of them - yes, I know that's not necessarily your experience, but don't conflate useless with technology as being without a certain low, animal cunning in how to avoid actually getting hit. *g*

[temaris.livejournal.com]

*giggle* so, if he's not doing the actual arresting, what's he up to? Lurking on the quay looking menacing?

No, not totally stupid. but sometimes... a little lacking in the good old common or garden sense. But that could just be a male thing. Most the *female* lawyers seem to have their heads screwed on okay. And a lot of the male too, tis true :-)

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

*laughing madly* He's applying to court for the actual order to arrest the ship. You know, being the lawyer and all. Court. Lawyer. Lawyer. Court.

And yes, I know exactly what you mean about some male lawyers...

[kittygoslingp.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip, I'm actually going to be on Charing Cross Road tomorrow.

[cyberducks.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize a lawyers job could be so glamorous! Can one also arrest an airplane?

It sucks when a favourite bookstore with character closes down. In the US we only seem to have the chains left, like "Borders" and "Barnes & Noble", and the odd second hander that's struggling along.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Glad to have been of assistance. Try not to spend *too* much.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize a lawyers job could be so glamorous!

*g* I think it's more a matter of the terminology applied - arresting a ship - than there being any actual glamour involved. What shipping lawyers call arresting a ship the rest of us used to call obtaining a 'Mareva injuction', or 'Marevaring'. Alas, the Civil Court Procedure was reformed in 1999 and we're meant to call them 'freezing orders' now, which is much less fun.

Can one also arrest an airplane?

Oh, certainly, but I can't remember whether we actually *call* it arresting an airplane. Which is frustrating considering that about 15 years ago I was involved in a case where we had to do just that - prevent an airplane from flying off because the US airline that owned it had just gone into Chapter 11 in the US and there were concerns that our client wouldn't get paid.

On the bookshop front, it's located on Charing Cross Road which is the most famous street for bookshops in Britain (there was even a film called 84 Charing Cross Road concerning a love affair started in a bookshop) and many independent bookshops still survive there but it's becoming harder and harder because of rising rental costs. Alas.