All are welcome

Having learnt the tough ‘never say no’ lesson in week one of our pilot scheme, the doors were well and truly flung open last Friday!  We served around 50 people with healthy turkey or feta burgers and fudge cookies and I even got my husband to eat courgettes, so, all in all, I’d say it was a great success!

Renee and I were slightly daunted by the 44 pre-booked covers who promised to come, so when a few people arrived with friends and some ‘walk-ins’ stopped by, all hungry and expectant, we were bordering on hyperventilation.  Being the consummate professionals that we are, no one noticed, I hope, and we kept on serving.  To our surprise, no loaves and fishes style miracles were required, although I was very prepared to pray for such things, and everyone left  fed and happy.  Moreover, the atmosphere was brilliant; friendly, laidback and nothing short of energetic, as far as the kids were concerned.

It seems impossible that we are half way through and even more impossible that we should be thinking about what comes next.  One month on, one month off?  Pop-ups?  Events?  There are many possibilities and variables to be considered, one thing is for sure, we don’t want the buzz of interest to die.  Yet without funding the café will never get off its feet, not in any sustainable way anyway.  So it is back to the plans and applications processes, but with renewed vigour fuelled by the knowledge that Filling the Gap N15 can be a success.  There is most definitely a market, clients and a gap that we can fill!

Looking to break our current record this Friday, so if you feel like coming along……………………….