I just hope he doesn't ask for it back

We have all done it. Borrowed something off our friend and forgot about giving back to them. Well, then you remember you have got it, but they haven’t asked for it back have they? So you tend just to keep onto it for that little bit longer.

I’m not that bad. Okay, I still have a U2 album that I borrowed from my mate Gareth in 1995. I still owe a kid called James Lawson one pound from 1989 after I forgot my school dinner money on the first day of senior school. But then again I have got things to claim back. The eight man used once that I could never put up tent that I lent out last year, or my best ever jumper that I lent some guy in 1999 but I never got back, I’m not bitter.

So, when I went to Frankfurt for a mates wedding in August, I made a promise to myself that anything I borrow, would get back. And sooner than a ten year period. As I was leaving to catch the plane back to England, Andrew was skimming his impressively stocked bookcases. As a student of English literature, he liked his books. “Ah, have you read the Da Vinci Code?” he asked. “Errrr, is it fiction?” I replied. “I don’t read fiction, what's it all about”. Andrew had this amazing ability to make you like songs, comedy shows and videos. If he says something is good, it probably was. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to give it to my brother, once you have read it, can you pass it on to him?”.

Now, borrowing something from someone in a different country seemed easier. There would no pressure to give that something back, especially as I see him once a year. But he had entrusted me to pass this book onto his brother, so that’s what I should do. I took the book. With nothing to read on the journey home, it seemed like a decent bet.

Three months later. Still untouched. A three day stay around my parents, a chance to relax, maybe read a book. Get away from the television with programmes that only old people watch. I had a choice, the Gardeners Monthly, Top Knitting Tips 2003, Jamie’s Kitchen, or nestled in my bag, the Da Vinci Code. The choice was made for. Twelve hours later the book was finished. Twenty Four hours later my dad had finished the book, for the first time in our lives, we had both read a book that we agreed on.

So what did I do? Did I pass the book on the person I was meant to? Of course not. I sent it to Canada for a far more interesting journey. Anyway, I knew that person wanted to read it. Maybe one day it will make it’s way back to Frankfurt and find it’s original owner. P.s, don’t tell Andrew.


The ‘book crossing’ clubs exist in small pockets all over the world. Books are left in public places, with “Read Me” on the front. Each book has it’s own unique identifier, when you find the book, you register on the website where you found the book, when you read it, what you thought of it, then you it in a café or park bench. The journey starts again. It’s just like a world wide library, just a lot more interesting.

As for my book, from Frankfurt to Canada via London, who knows will get it next.
Andrew Walker, Frankfurt (original owner, still thinks I’ve got it)
Rich Cooper (Bournemouth)
Maurie Cooper (London)
Alison Janzen (Vancouver)
Jennifer Jansen (Vancouver)
...........who knows where it will end up next.

Web Links.............

The book crossing website

A short BBC video about the idea

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