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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.

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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!

 


37 comments:

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

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

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

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  3. 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.

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

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  4. 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 :-)

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

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  5. Dear Liz,

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

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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

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

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

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

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  8. Glad you played this week!
    Ronda

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  9. Hahaha! Good for them!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  13. This made me smile.
    Thanks, Liz

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

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    Replies
    1. What they can't prove they cant prosecute.

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  15. 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.

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    Replies
    1. So many people struggling, one has to admire ingenuity.

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

    Here's mine!

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

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

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  18. Heehee! Hope it didn't come to that.

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  19. 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.

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

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