Today Chris from Coffee Supreme dropped by for a catch up
and to see how we were getting on with the tea house.
We spent the morning sitting around drinking coffee and gossiping,
laughing and banging on about the ways of the world..
We were doing exactly what we had hoped for
using the space
in the same way we stand around the store counter
and talk .
We sat around loosely on stools like one would in their own kitchen
referring to things
to objects
to people
with a familiarity and warmth.
Holly dropped in to buy cleaning products
She will be one of our special guest baristas,
things were falling into place the way shopping is placed in cupboards
with a type of regularity yet touch of the new.
Kim came in and handed me a parcel
wrapped in a painting made by our friend
Nina when she was in primary school.
It was Carl Jung's- Memories, Dreams and Reflections
she had placed a rose on top of the book.
I took her into the tea house and placed the rose in a thermos.
Flicking through the book Kim was like a regular customer
We laughed and took photos pretending she was a regular customer...
Working away the noon turned to afternoon and
Nada and I made ourselves a licorice tea.
A customer walked into the store and head down to where we were,
" Can I please have a pot of tea? " She asked.
Nada, as hospitable as ever replied
" Sure, why not I'm not the barista but I can make you a pot of tea!"
and so it was our first customer in the tea house was served.
Not wanting to disturb her I shyly asked if I could take her picture
and told her we were not actually officially open yet .
She was thrilled to be our first customer.
I said when you come back it will be in full working order
and she said, " I like it just how it is, it's just like being in my mothers kitchen."
And here she is our first unofficial customer
Robyn.
She drank Chinese Pu-Erh tea with milk and hot water
ate an ANZAC biscuit and read Alain de Botton The Consolations of Philosophy,
and just like that we were open. ( Unofficially )
