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7.10.20

QUAY-SIDE CAFE - a story in 100 words

 

QUAY-SIDE CAFE

Lockdown hit our quay-side cafė hard – most of our regulars began making their coffee at home, and our usual lunch-time office workers simply vanished.

 When regulations eased we invested the last of our capital in outside tables and managed until the weather turned sour. Storm-force winds, waves crashing right over the sea-wall – we were lucky not to lose the hut.

 On the first calm, sunny day we put the tables back out and advertised on Facebook – ‘Meals Half Price’ – we couldn’t waste all the fish we'd found tangled in the seaweed, could we?

 It was all gone before the Health Inspectors arrived.

....................................................................................

I'm all in favour of entrepreneurs, even those who bend the rules a bit as long as they don't actually break the law!

Thanks to Sandra Crook for the photograph - I wonder where it was taken? - and to Rochelle for hosting us on her blog:- 

https://rochellewisoff.com/

I was interviewed this morning for an article called 'Village People' in a local magazine, and managed to mention my books a few times :) Have you bought yours yet? They're all on Amazon, and a link to the latest is at the top of this page. If you live in UK and would like the complete Living Rock series at the author's rate of £15, just contact me via FB. They would make great Christmas presents!

 


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37 comments:

  1. Neil MacDonald07/10/2020, 16:03

    Yikes! Storm-tossed fish. I hope nobody suffers food poisoning

    ReplyDelete
  2. Susan A Eames07/10/2020, 16:03

    Loved that upbeat ending! Great take on the photo prompt, Liz.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    ReplyDelete
  3. Helen Baggott 07/10/2020, 16:11

    A story of our time, Lizy. I can reveal that the photo is of Swanage from near the quay looking across the bay. You can just see the Mowlem theatre.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young07/10/2020, 22:45

      Right in your neck of the woods, Helen. Feel free to share it with the cafe's true owners!

      Delete
  4. Iain Kelly07/10/2020, 16:51

    I am enjoying the politicians telling us we can still meet family outside - in Scotland, in winter!!! Like the upbeat pragmatism at the end Liz :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young07/10/2020, 22:46

      There will be a lot of cold bums on outdoor seats, Iain!

      Delete
  5. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields07/10/2020, 21:14

    Dear Liz,

    We do what we have to, don't we? Nicely done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young07/10/2020, 22:47

      We do, Rochelle - and most of us are sensible about doing so.

      Delete
  6. plaridel07/10/2020, 21:18

    like they say, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young07/10/2020, 22:48

      Nicely put, plaridel - in their case, fish and chips!

      Delete
  7. Subroto08/10/2020, 00:58

    Catch of the day on a bed of organic seaweed salad. Who can resist :-)
    Fun story.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ronda Del Boccio08/10/2020, 01:28

    Glad you played this week!
    Ronda

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dora08/10/2020, 02:13

    Hahaha! Good for them!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dale08/10/2020, 03:11

    Hey... it's not like the fish was lying around for days, right? Fun ending to an otherwise sad reality for so many.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young09/10/2020, 16:09

      As they sold it all, obviously their customers were content.

      Delete
  11. Anita Sabat08/10/2020, 07:20

    Great ending.
    Positive story! :) May hay while the sun shines!
    Maybe the health inspectors could have eaten too! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young09/10/2020, 16:09

      Health Inspectors are notoriously hard to please - or to bribe with a free meal!

      Delete
  12. Tannille08/10/2020, 08:16

    I don't like waste... I hope no one became sick. Fish can be tricky.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young09/10/2020, 16:10

      Fish can be tricky, but not as bad as shellfish.

      Delete
  13. C. E. Ayr08/10/2020, 09:59

    This made me smile.
    Thanks, Liz

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sandra Crook08/10/2020, 11:11

    Sea-kill not much better than road-kill so far as the Health Inspector is concerned, I should think.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young09/10/2020, 16:11

      What they can't prove they cant prosecute.

      Delete
  15. Penny Gadd08/10/2020, 11:30

    A small silver lining in a large, black storm cloud. Nicely written, Liz. It's dreadful the way this virus has hit business and employment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young09/10/2020, 16:11

      So many people struggling, one has to admire ingenuity.

      Delete
  16. Keith's Ramblings08/10/2020, 17:35

    The nautical equivalent of manna from heaven! Good for them, they deserved a bit of luck!

    Here's mine!

    ReplyDelete
  17. JadeLi09/10/2020, 04:16

    When God gives you lemons, make lemonade. When God gives a cafe fresh fish...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young09/10/2020, 16:12

      ... dip it in batter and deep-fry - perfect!

      Delete
  18. liz young09/10/2020, 16:13

    Heehee! Hope it didn't come to that.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Bernadette11/10/2020, 09:02

    I guess if the fish didn't go bad it shouldn't matter how they got it?
    They certainly know how to make fish when the sun shines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. liz young11/10/2020, 22:16

      As long as they gathered it before the sun shone too much!

      Delete

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