How long can you sit in a coffee shop ?
Answer : About 4 hours.
Without ordering ?
Answer : Depends on your attitude.
Freezing cold Sunday, really don't want to sit in my room at the B&B as there is no net connection, so what am I to do ?
Well, I started off at the Natural Cafe at 9.00am and actually ordered a skinny latte - excellent coffee.
I managed to stay there until 10.30am by which time the place had been invaded by a few too many families with little-uns. I can handle 3 or 4, but when it goes over 6, critical mass has been reached. It's also a bit impolite to stay too long, as by 11am the place is packed.
Right then, lets head down to Coffee Society but not actually order anything. This isn't difficult because I've gone right off the coffee here. The last two I had tasted terrible and I took the second one back and got a replacement which was equally icky.
They've got new staff and I don't think they are cleaning things properly. It tastes like someone is using soap but not rinsing properly, which is a massive error when it comes to coffee.
Anyway, I topped up my little bottle of Evian which I carry on me for such purposes, as it is the water that is served in most coffee shops.
Quietly enter the coffee shop, get a good table, haul out the laptop, plonk the bottle of evian on the table as if to say "I just bought it here" and away you go.
I've been here since 10.40am, it's now 12:30pm - I'll be here another 30 mins, doing my net surfing.
Regarding coffee, I intend to get to know more about it when I'm finally settled - start buying different beans, roast my own - that type of thing.
I found a real gem of a coffee shop in The Borough (altho I'm sure there's more of them), selling fresh coffee beans from around the world. I tried the house expresso blend without sugar or milk, which is apparently the best way to drink good coffee.
It was fantastic - not bitter at all. The coffee had a good natural foam on the surface and a great kick. After the 2 pints of natural cider (10% proof) I'd consumed that afternoon, it sobered me up a bit. £1.20 for a double shot - not a bad price.
I still don't really rate Starbucks, I find the shops lacking in character, the queues too long, the seats uncomfortable and the prices too high. It's best to hunt down the smaller independent places and sample the coffee. Natural is the best local one I've found, their coffee is excellent.
Anyway, almost time to venture back out to snag some cheap lunch, head back to the B&B, do a quote and get busy on a freelance job.
Then, as always, it's down The Swan for an evening pint.
At least I had a small social yesterday afternoon - visited friends and watched the Rugby.
Tommorrow I apply for a job at WHSmiths and find out about another freelance job.
