Porridge please

It seems our theorist friend, when visiting a community church-led cafe, has been told not discuss such things or he will be banned. But they have also banned others of our guests. Zac's is famously the last place in Swansea to ban anyone - and it has to be a really major offence for that.

Yesterday, ah yesterday. It was a long day. It began at 6.40 am when I woke up, for the fifth time that night, to check if it was time for the alarm to go off yet. It was set for 6.45 so I switched it off and got up, showered and went out. 

Yesterday was the Grand Re-opening of Zac's. Meaning we opened.

Another charity, the Wallich, uses Zac's building to serve breakfast and has been doing so, via the hatch, since lockdown, but they only offer hot drinks and slices of toast. Yesterday we welcomed people into our building again, and it was wonderful. 

(At this point I would post photos but my computer has stopped working - I'm using Husband's after some time playing with tablets, phones, and passwords to enable me to get in, and I'm limited in what I can do. At least without spending another hour and more tears of frustration.)

Claire, our cook, offered porridge with banana and syrup, and/or toast with scrambled eggs, baked beans or just butter. The Wallich team was still in attendance but were able to give their full attention to the rough sleepers who came in, while Sarah, another volunteer, and I took orders and served the drinks.

We had about ten guests, which was great for the first morning.

I was able to give one young man a warmer coat and he was so unbelievably grateful for it and the food. 

(Husband is a genius! He has fixed my computer, again, so I'm back on it, although it did insist on me doing more identifying checks to make sure it's me. I think I will spend the afternoon lying in a darkened room with a damp flannel on my face.)

The eggs were much nicer than they look in my photo.

Then it was off to Rough Edges for another clearance day. The shop looks almost reasonable now - at least you can walk down the aisles and around it safely - so next week we'll be starting on the Back Room. Those two words should be written in a horror film font.

This time my photo makes it look better than it is!

I would love to one day see it divided into a small repair area and a larger sitting relaxing area for the men who call in just for company. But that will depend on us getting a manager. A voluntary manager as we can't afford to pay anyone! And, of course, clearing everything out of it . . .

There is a log burner in the shop but the door was always open so it never really warmed up and yesterday was our coldest day so far this winter. By the time I got home I was chilled to the bone.

Then I went to Daughter's to childmind briefly as they attended a parents' evening, and then came home. 

Went to bed early.