Nick Pashley, on his days at The Book Cellar in the 1970s (and, perhaps, on the perseverance of indie booksellers): “No fewer than three of my workmates at the store are not only still alive but are also here this evening.”

On buying a necktie in 1978: “$1.99 was an average week’s pay for a Toronto bookseller. So much has changed since that time – except that.”

On some early career advice: “She said, ‘I don’t see you working in a bookshop.’ Oddly enough, many of the people I’ve worked for over the years also haven’t seen me working in a bookshop.”

On his advice for young people in the business: “Get out.”

More advice: “Marry someone with a good job in the real world.”

On having followed his own advice by marrying wife Anne: “It’s a little game we play. She is the Gerry to my Heather.”

Peter Waldock picks up the theme: “We’ve always known Anne by her initials, RRSP.”

Peter Waldock on the state of Pashley’s office: “You were supposed to retire at the end of this month, but they have now asked you to clean out your office first, so your revised departure date is Nov. 12.”