Tuesday, May 13, 2008
:take yourself out:
These photos are of Midnight Espresso in Wellington - a favourite haunt of mine since the early 1990s. Sometimes the thing that I love about a place is how it doesn’t change. Everything else changes apace, so it’s wonderful to have this little portal of nostalgia availabe whenever I need of shot (of espresso, yes, but of memory also.)
***
I’ve been busy with lots of my paid work over the past few weeks. I do enjoy my job, but it is so very tidal. By that I mean, weeks go by where the most I do is have email conversations with students and then their assignments come in and suddenly my life is not very much my own and I am trying to pack a 40+ hour working week in around family life. It is always a challenge. For all that, though, I am grateful to have part time work that firstly, I can do from home - allowing me to full-time parent, and secondly, is related to my passion: writing.
There is a real sense of ‘coming up for air’ when I send the completed assignments back in their courier bag...I’m feeling that today. I have Magnus home today and tomorrow, but Thursday - his next kindy morning, I’m going to take myself out for the morning. I usually use the kindy mornings to do work or housework or writing work, so it will feel deliciously decadent. On the agenda will be a leisurely chai and chelsea bun in the library cafe, a loooonnggg mooch in the bookshop and library with no little hands tugging at my sleeves and, of course, some op shopping! I got the idea of taking myself out on a date from Julia Cameron’s ‘artist’s dates’ in The Artist’s Way book. There is something so valuable about indulging yourself. You go home relaxed and enriched. You get ideas. You become a nicer partner / parent / person.
There is a cake, a book and a bag of op shop goodness with my name on it - come Thurday I will heed their call!
Posted by on 13 May, 2008 at 7:49am
I sold my copy of the Artists way - looks like I need it back. I wonder if you are one of my tutors? That woudl be weird
Posted by artandmylife on 13 May, 2008 at 10:28 AM
OH and I LOVE MIdnight Espresso and I am a freind of the other helen’s
Posted by artandmylife on 13 May, 2008 at 10:28 AM
I’m only about a block from Midnight Espresso and am using all my will not to run there now. Hey - somewhere in your emails from students is one from me asking about an op shopping date on Friday 30 May.
Posted by Emma on 13 May, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Heyyyy… I must be close to Emma! (Unless she works in the opposite direction?)
Anyway, if you are in Welly on Thursday morn and you’d fancy a coffee date then let me know. If you are in the mood for solitary caffeinating then I understand completely 
xo
Posted by Nikki on 13 May, 2008 at 12:52 PM
I’m on Marion Street - above Goldings Handcrafts.
Posted by Emma on 13 May, 2008 at 01:15 PM
Posted by cosy on 13 May, 2008 at 02:04 PM
I love this comments conversation!
I’m going to take myself out on a booky date on Monday - pick up my orders from Unity, go to the library & cafe and read!! Yay! Have fun on Thursday xx
Posted by Helen on 13 May, 2008 at 03:08 PM
ahh, lovely! have a great time.
midnight espresso was always my favourite cafe in wellington. i’m pleased to hear they haven’t changed much. do they still have that amazing chocolate cake with grapes on sticks coming out of the top?
Posted by melissa on 13 May, 2008 at 08:18 PM
I love the Artist Way books and I love days spent in coffee shops. Bliss.
Posted by Nix on 14 May, 2008 at 12:26 AM
Taking yourself out on a date sounds wonderful! Hope you enjoy it. I also love Midnight Espresso. My favourite table to sit at is the one made from an old video game (it’s just visible on the top left of your photo). Ahh, coffee at M.E. followed by browsing in the shops in upper Cuba and a trip to global fabrics - my idea of heaven!
Posted by Louise on 14 May, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Thanks everyone! I’m hyped!
artandmylife - which papers are you doing?
Nikki - I’m not coming to Wgtn, alas, I’ll be hanging out in PN, but hope you meet up with you one of these days.
Melissa - yes! they still decorate their food wonderfully with carrot tops, and grapes and flowers and all kinds of wacky stuff.
Louise - you sound like my kinda ‘mooching’ date!
Helen - have a lovely book-Monday.
All of you - thank you all - what a lovely community I’m part of. (gets all teary eyed.)
x Helen
Posted by on 14 May, 2008 at 02:02 PM
I am takign a break from my masters (in something completely different) and doign 139.123. Will be doign life writing next year but a friend is coming to do two “talks” for that class in Aug and I hope to sneak in to those
Posted by artandmylife on 14 May, 2008 at 02:34 PM
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