I travel between by home and the big smoke, aka Dublin
pretty regularly. Of course I use public transport, carbon footprint, woeful
sense of direction etc. In general it’s fine with the exception of the fact
that I end up hauling a large bag with me in an attempt to follow those
recession busting tips which tell you to bring your own lunch and drink tap
water and cut out the latte etc and then you’ll be able to afford a holiday or health
insurance which may come in handy for the injuries you receive carrying your
handbag!
Anyhow one of my favourite past times while I'm in Dublin is
people watching, particularly in coffee shops. Sitting watching people come and
go, some in suits, some tourists, some with kids in tow, couples in love,
homeless people sheltering from the cold, there’s a weird sense of
companionship by joining others in the one place , taking a break from whatever
!
My problem is that the recession busting phenomenon of
bringing your own lunch does not lend itself to the communal sharing of
refreshments in a coffee shop. Similarly for those who work alone, or travel
for their jobs or don’t have access to a staff canteen, lunch can be a lonely
inconvenient period of the day.
Might it be a suggestion to open a Bring Your Own (BYO) coffee/lunch venue in
the city centre in one of the empty buildings? Tables, chairs, daily papers,
background music, a hot water dispenser, bins and some staff members who wipe
down the tables, oversee the distribution of hot water and generally keep order.
Those who use the facility regularly could pay a monthly fee, and those who
only use it occasionally could make a donation to cover upkeep and staff costs.
Any Takers?
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