For over a year I have been a volunteer “host” in the church Coffee House. I like doing this and it’s quite a bit of fun. Actually being a host is probably the best job! Here’s how it can go…..
“Doug, just make sure we have every cup, teapot and saucer at the front ready for the 11 o’clock rush” pleads Rob. Rob, by the way, is the manager and he knows what’s about to happen.
At 11:01 two ladies appear, then two or three more and next there’s a queue stretching to the door. This is the ladies emerging from their meeting in church and it’s turning out to be infamous. We also have young Mums with kids hurtling around as well as a traffic jam of babes in their buggies.
And then the, shall we say, slightly mature ladies. They all like their lattes and cups of tea just ‘so’ which means decaf tea or if it’s coffee, sometimes they’ll have only one shot. All this needs to be remembered. It’s important!
And then the Pastor’s wife comes in, sees the queue and tries to place a verbal order with “oh just bring it over anytime, I don’t mind waiting a bit”. So that gets delivered a few minutes later with a chirpy “that’ll be £15 plus VAT. Paying now or on account?”
Most the customers aren’t connected to the church in any way and they must be bemused at the influx of ladies from the church. There’s two ladies of a certain age who are very flirty and don’t hold back with the personal questions as we chat. “So you’re married are you? Are you sure about that? I could do with a young man…..”.
And then there’s Jim, we always talk about whatever is in his Daily Mail newspaper. Often Brexit and right wing stuff. We are poles apart and he gives me a little wink as we try to wind each other up. And then the staff from the tattoo and piercing shop come in for their takeaways mid morning. With purple hair, piercings and radical tattoos they bring welcome colour and life to the Radio 2 ambience.
For my actual role, I’m one of a group of volunteer hosts and we work alongside the paid staff. In some ways we have the best job. It involves chatting to customers first and foremost, being the runner between the main counter and the tables, plus being the all-important extra pair of hands with anything that’s needed.
I well remember feeling apprehensive ahead of the first shift I did as a volunteer there. In fact I remember asking myself why I was doing it as I was on my way there and whether it was too late to back out. Actually I really enjoy it; I never know who I’ll end up chatting to, how long that queue of ladies will be and how short of teaspoons we will be.
I’m so pleased I can do this as part of my retirement. It brings balance to my life and how I use my time and grey cells. Onwards and upwards.