Golly Gosh Cafe

tea shop and sanctuary

Tag: Golly Gosh Cafe

conversations

I have introduced myself. You have introduced yourself. This is a very good conversation. ~ Katsumoto, The Last Samurai They were two silver-haired ladies, still stylish and still a little mischievous. Kate and Lizzie could no longer be described as young but that didn’t matter, at least not to them.  It neither hindered nor worried […]

time

‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to […]

perception

‘If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is; Infinite.  For the man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro’ narrow chinks of his cavern’ ~ William Blake When the time came Maggie was more than happy to be stepping down from the bus and waving […]

childhood things

Many years have passed since those summer days Among the fields of barley See the children run as the sun goes down Among the fields of gold You’ll remember me when the west wind moves Upon the fields of barley ~ Sting Each stop saw the bus empty and in time there would only be […]

restoring

“I have to be alone very often.  I’d be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment.  That’s how I refuel.” ~ Audrey Hepburn She’d joined in. This was a significant step, a sign perhaps. She knew what to look for and this afternoon’s contribution to a brief […]

ghosts

A person who has no-one would be well advised to cobble together some passable ghost.  Breathe it into being and coax it along with words of love.  Offer it each phantom crumb and shield it from harm with your body.  ~ Cormac McCarthy, The Road She had to go back. To decide. The rattle and […]

for-mi-da-ble

formidable (adj): tending to inspire awe and wonder; great strength, powerful Jan and Maggie sat by the window and admired a glass jug filled with beautiful pink roses fresh from the garden; full and in bloom and softly scented.  Sally’s favourite had become  theirs too.  They were enjoying their usual choice of tea with Alice’s award winning lemon cake.  In cahoots.  Like when they were […]

friends

  Jan and her best friend sat down to afternoon tea.  It was an unscheduled stop after a short day at work; an unexpected opportunity to catch up, so why not. Jan sensed an unspoken weariness in her friend and admired her for concealing it so well from others if not herself. Give it time. Time heals. Apparently. No ungratefuless […]

decisions

If people knew the story of their lives how many would then elect to live them? People speak about what is in store. But there is nothing in store. The day is made of what has come before. The world itself must be surprised at the shape of that which appears. Perhaps even God.~Cormac McCarthy,  […]

autumn

How beautifully leaves grow old.  How full of light and color are their last days.  ~John Burroughs The softness of newly fallen red and gold and brown leaves, slippery under wellington boots that playfully rustled and kicked and swept on the way to school.   The feel of a new navy blue trenchcoat still to be […]

surprises

You can’t remake the world Without remaking yourself. Each new era begins within. ~ Ben Okri Sally and Alice had colluded in the birthday surprise, inviting Golly Gosh regulars on behalf of the shopping girls who now waited, giggly and excited and a little nervous; their friend’s special birthday.  A birthday that, ten years ago, […]

dancing

“Lermontov: Why do you want to dance? Vicky: Why do you want to live? Lermontov: Well, I don’t know exactly why, but… I must. Vicky: That’s my answer too.” The girl with the sensible shoes was the first to arrive; an agent on a secret and important mission.  The only thing missing was a disguise.  The […]

big blue skye

But that big blue sky Shows me all that I have got And you’re by my side To be everything I’m not The angels sigh I breathe deep the breath of God ~ Bebo Norman In the morning all the signs of last night’s gale were there.  The power of the wind unquestionable in the devastation and […]

presence

Lift up your heart to him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to him. One need not cry out very loudly; he is nearer to us than we think. ~ Brother Lawrence It was the end of the day and they took their time leaving.  But […]

sharing

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile. ~ Mother Theresa It was a stunning day and she was glad she’d made the effort to get out of the cottage and take the […]

healing

Andy Dufresne: [in letter to Red] Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. ~ Shawshank Redemption She was forever patient. Hopeful. How could one be so certain. Like no other she displayed a tangible certainty of safety; witnessing her faith in life and its […]

friends

life’s truest happiness is found in the friendships we make along the way They meet on the last Saturday of every month. Sally served the perfect afternoon tea: perfectly triangular sandwiches on a tiered stand, with perfect bite-sized homemade cakes made by perfect Alice and a chilled glass of champagne.  Fine china teacups and plates and tall […]

calm

Sally appreciated help with opening up this morning. She was already rushed and she felt the clouds gathering. Life had a knack of running ahead of her if she wasn’t careful and although it didn’t come easy asking for help she knew there really was no choice. She couldn’t do it all. Ask Alice. Reliable. […]

observing

Hope she’s ok. The woman in the corner I mean. Sally said she always sits in the same seat; orders a cup Earl Grey tea. Nothing to eat, just Earl Grey. She can sit for hours. Quiet and invisible. Sometimes she reads or writes or just stares at the door as if she’s half expecting […]

bags and laughter and sore feet

And so the colourful people arrived. Regulars. A group of young women in their early twenties wearing brightly coloured dresses on this gloriously sunny day.  In unison they pushed their sunglasses off their faces as they entered the tearoom, adjusting to the change in light, and headed for their usual table. The random shopping bags […]