Friday, January 22, 2010

where I have been not so busy with things that do not involve blogging


The cafe was nearly empty for most of the afternoon, which suited me just fine. Perhaps not so for the proprietors, so I went up and got another coffee and added a cinnamon bun to my order. Diet be damned. (I know, I could have had a salad, or a sandwich, but the bill in my pocket turned out to be only a $5) I had a book to read that I cannot put down and I enjoyed the peace. Stieg Larssons' The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - highly recommend it, if you like mysteries and thrilling family sagas. It is at best, an exciting engrossing read and at worst, a confusing engrossing read. The family tree included has become the most thumbed page in the book.

I sometimes feel a twinge, when I slink past my local coffee house, the one I used to patronize at least twice weekly, to go to my new favourite coffee house. They are both friendly with very good coffee, but this other one has more of the comfy chairs and has many more bigger windows to let in the light. And it does seem a shame to leave my very bright, sunlit apartment to come sit in a dark cafe. I like to drink coffee out. It seems more sociable, even if I am alone. And I can get more writing done when I am out, for some reason. And today I had five postcards to get written. One day I will upload pics of the latest postcards I've received and share more of them with you.

Anyway, I walked past my LCH to come to the new favourite one that was so quiet yesterday. I walked in the door, out of the cold, and was met with a line up to the counter and not a seat to be spared! With a deep sigh, I turned, clutching my book, and walked back to LCH, where I was enthusiastically greeted by name. And where the overstuffed chair by the window sat empty, waiting for someone with a book that cannot be put down.

the pic above has nothing to do with this post, it is simply a lovely plant that a friend gave me and I promised to display it.

28 comments:

  1. This is just wonderful Violet. I feel so much of myself in this short story; the need to explore, check other possibilities and ultimately return to the sourse, the warmth of what is familiar and friendly.

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  2. Lovely cyclamen.The familiar can be such a comfort.

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  3. Isn't it good when things turn out well, and with good coffee too. It is like bathing in tranquillity.
    I enjoyed the Stieg Larsson books enormously and have just started to re-read the third. The plots are so complicated that re-reading is always interesting and enjoyable.

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  4. Annie: they are both great places, but at the LCH, she asked and remembered my name and that I take a medium roast, black after only one visit! at the other one, they still don't seem to recognize me even though I have been there several times.

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  5. Von: I keep moving that cyclamen so i can see it wherever I sit!

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  6. Persiflage: wait, you are rereading the third book?? we still have to wait for the second one in paperback.

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  7. ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, i need to buy that this weekend. thanks for the great recommendation

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  8. It's funny but I have that same feeling, that drinking coffee outside is more sociable:)
    We "lost" our favorite coffee place, so now we're orphaned, looking for a new one.

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  9. Char: hope you like it. it is an interweaving tale, almost like getting two books in one.

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  10. Jeannette: I have noticed a resurgence of independent coffee shops the last couple of years, so hope you find a good one in your new neighbourhood soon.

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  11. That is a very pretty cyclamen - and a lovely photo!

    You do have interesting coffee houses in Ontario! I just cannot imagine anywhere here, or in England, having lovely comfy chairs that you can sit in for ages reading a book! I suppose they might do in London, I am just so 'out of it' now I wouldn't know. But somehow I doubt it!

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  12. Oh, they missed you! And they know you by name! Now won't you feel like a real s*** if you pass LCH up for the shiny new one again? Being remembered is worth much more to me than bright windows! Oh dear, I hope I haven't made you feel bad, but I'm not taking it back! ;-)

    I think everyone on the planet has read that book but me! I suppose I shall have to add it to the ever-growing pile on my desk. I really must stop going to Goodwill.

    Thank you for posting the cyclamen...it really is as lovely as you said.

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  13. Gilly: that seems to be a nice trend - there is often a fireplace with soft chairs and another spot by a window with soft chairs, plus the usual tables and hard chairs. sitting there for ages at least makes the place look 'busy'!

    anyway, you guys have that great idea of having a cafe in your garden centres - I wish we had that.

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  14. Susan: you're welcome.

    oh, I won't abandon them - maybe I'll just go out twice as often and spend two days a week at each one?
    I have many books to read....

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  15. I like your solution to the coffee house situation!! Perfect! Visit them both every week. I wish I had one to go too...there is a new one in town. I might give it a try.
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  16. ...How I wish I had even One neighborhood coffee house to go to ...the nearest one is at least one half hour away ...all we have are many, many, drive in doughnut shops...you know the ones...

    ...another book added to my TBR list:)

    xo

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  17. I love the Millenium trilogy. I read the first in paperback, got the second one in paperback in Paris last March (brought it back to the U.S. to my son's delight) and was so eager for the third, that I ordered it from Amazon UK and for some reason got a sale price. I'm thinking: reread. In the meantime, I've seen the movie!! My son got it somehow and downloaded it to my computer. It is fabulous! How fab' having two coffee shops!

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  18. SueAnn: I have always made it a point to make sure I lived within walking distance of some coffee house establishment. I have priorities!

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  19. Oliag: yes, I do know, and I feel for you, I really do. not exactly an inviting situation is it?

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  20. Mim: and here I am, where the second book has just been published (just this past Fall) and a few of you are already re-reading the series - and seeing the movie!

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  21. Curling up in a comfy chair by the window with a good book and a cup of coffee sounds lovely.

    (I planted some cyclamen this fall - can't wait to see them come up.)

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  22. I have been looking at that book in the shops, & wishing to read it!Perhaps I should go to a coffee shop to read a little to just 'have a break'. Our local coffee shops are not too enticing- the Gloria Jean's is dark & pokey, while the Michele's is out in the mall, & no privacy to had- nor comfy seating!

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  23. SAW: I have only ever seen cyclamen as a potted plant. I cannot imagine having it in a garden!

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  24. Meggie: I believe Gloria Jean's is the same as our Second Cup, and they are usually dark. And I rarely enjoy a coffee stop in the mall food courts. I hadn't realized having a variety of coffee shops was an anomaly!

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  25. I have only one thing to say against Stieg Larsson. I'm really annoyed that he's dead and won't be writing any more...

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  26. Jazz: at least he finished this trilogy. but yes, what else might he have come up with...

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  27. What a nice vignette. Thank you

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  28. XUP: you are welcome. the coffee inspired me.

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