I have come to Cirencester to work for a bit while I wait for Dan who is working nearby. I came into Waterstones to look for something for Dan’s birthday next week (shhh!) and to work in their cafe. I’m on a slow day. I’ve only got a couple of hours here so it is tempting to log on and crack on. I say “only’” I could say I’ve got a couple of hours here. I’ve got the time I’ve got. I could view it as short or I could view it as long. I hardly ever have 2 hours on my own in a cafe. What a luxury.
In my slowness, I stopped to chat to 2 different assistants who work here. One of them received an Amazon parcel while we were chatting about books and Waterstones’ ‘Smart Thinking’ shelves. I laughed and asked him if it was books? He laughed. No it was his cleaning products for home. We talked more. They didn’t have the book I was looking for (Under Pressure by Carl Honoré). I bought another book and spoke to a second assistant. We reflected on the fact that in this day and age we need a book to give us permission to slow down and do what we know instinctively is good for us. She told me that she walked slowly to work today and the birds were singing particularly loudly. She told me that when she was a child she kicked around at the local park. We talked about how nowadays children are rushed from club and class to club and class. I told her about Steiner kindergarten and how my youngest child has just started school, hence my wandering on my own on a Thursday lunchtime. Her children have recently left home. She is finding the empty nest hard. She has a 9 month old granddaughter who isn’t quite crawling yet. She told me how she looks after her.
Then in the queue for the toilet I spoke to 2 more ladies who were browsing cook books. I said that I love cookbooks and think that they can’t be replaced by online recipes. We talked about recipes and how interesting cookbooks are. I helped another lady with the heavy toilet door.
So much activity and interaction. I feel buoyant and I’m smiling. I ‘only’ have an hour left of my work time but my short time in this shop has already been so rich. I’m inspired.