I love eBay. I think it really is the best thing since sliced bread.

After four years of shrewd bidding and impulsive online shopping, I’ve finally found that oh-so elusive item (or in my case, items) that make the whole eBay experience so worthwhile. And no, I am not making this up because such things really do exist. It was a sewing machine for my sister, a particular Mango dress priced at a quarter of its original price for my best friend, and two (well, technically, three) of Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome books for myself.

And these books were very hard to come by, mind you. I got the first one I ever read (Antony and Cleopatra, which, incidentally, is the last book of the series) from Asia Books in Bangkok. I couldn’t find any other of the other titles for months and months, but with a strange bit of luck, The Fiance managed to snag me a lone copy of Caesar from Fully Booked for my birthday.

I’ve been regularly trawling through Fully Booked, Powerbooks, National Bookstore, Book Sale, and RSO since, but I have not seen a single Colleen McCullough title anywhere. Even the staff claim never to have heard of her, or seen any of her books before.

I would’ve ordered over Amazon, but the shipping charges just don’t seem to justify the purchase. So I tried eBay, and until now, I’m still wondering why I didn’t even think to look there first, considering I’m on the site trawling for Macbooks almost every day anyway. (Yes, I should hit my head on the wall, I know.)

I found three of the seven books in one go. I’ve bought two of the titles, and one of them – Caesar’s Women – turned up today, while The First Man in Rome is still in transit. I’m currently haggling for the third (The October Horse) because it’s a tad overpriced. Truth be told, though, I’ll probably pay twice the price for it in a heartbeat, but the seller doesn’t know that (tee hee), and nobody else is bidding on it. Plus, it really is fun to haggle.

So now I’m just missing The Grass Crown and Fortune’s Favourites. If any of you ever come across these titles, please, please, PLEASE send ‘em my way. I can promise you a lifetime of servitude. Okay, that’s a bit extreme, but, really, I’ll pay. And I’ll buy you dinner, whoever you are. And ice cream. And yes, I’m serious.

Thank you eBay for ensuring that I’m kept amused for at least the next month or so. You really are the best source of everything from breast pumps, to a Romanian vampire killing set. You’re not selling Caesar’s underwear in there somewhere, are you? Just thought I’d ask.