14 Years ago, on the 6th of August 2006, Natalie and I left our home in Harrow-on-The-Hill and moved to the Isle of Dogs to begin working at Café Forever. We had no children and with that very little possessions (especially the barbie dolls)! We didn't know what to expect, I left a job as a news editor at Sky News because I wanted to get involved in community work, following a vocation. Well that work for the London City Mission is now at an end, the café has ceased trading due to the missions strategic plan change. I can't say I was enthusiastic about the change. I know there are many local people who we worked with who are feeling very lost without the café, who don't know of another space quite like it. They were often the marginalised of society, those who didn't quite behave as the world would have and didn't quite fit in.
I worked with some amazing people at Café Forever, in the early years Jo who brought so much character and was frequently visited by her children after school, Elise who always had her eyes on peace and hope and the supplier of many quick chirps to keep Paula and Iain in check. Thai Pim who showed us all what hard work really was, also always with a little humour to add. Andrew, Esther and Abimaro who helped relaunch the café and get systems in operation - and added a little style, along with Spof who sang to the kids. Our cheerful Hungarian chef Gabby who was followed by superhero Dot, with Duncan and Sarah in supporting roles with a side order of gateau and pc repairs, Jolly to cover whenever someone was ill and finishing off with Justyna and Stevie! And of course all of the amazing volunteers who helped us, many of them American!
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| Outside Café Forever with Dot and Sarah |
But for myself, I and my beautiful family are still on the Isle of Dogs, fortunately as part of redundancy pay out we get to remain in the house for one more year, so we are on the lookout for how things might change, praying that something will become apparent in our accommodation needs before December 2021. As for work, well I have landed beautifully, onto the warehouse floor of the wonderful First Love Foundation foodbank in Poplar. It is such an encouraging team, so needed! The motto of the place is from the apostle John's first letter, "let us not love with words or speech but in action and in truth", now that works for me, maybe I'll learn a thing or two.
