Buying Time in the Comfy Chair

June 14, 2011
by Rodney Olsen
8 Comments

coffee.jpgI spent some time in a cafe on Saturday. I was there with my son, James. We bought our drinks and then sat down in the comfy lounge type chairs.

We had some real quality father, son time. I was using my iPad and James was battling enemies on his DS. I should say that this isn’t a common practice. We do actually talk to each other. Anyhow, I’m getting off track.

The thing I started wondering while at the cafe was, “How much time can a couple of drinks buy me in the comfy chair?” Is there a time limit once you’ve purchased your beverage of choice? Does the clock start running once you get your drink or once you finish it?

We took a while to finish our drinks but once we had, we were just a couple of guys sitting in comfortable chairs in front of a table with empty cups on it. Should we have left at that point?

Just as I was pondering these weighty matters a cafe worker came past and removed the empties. We were now just a couple of guys sitting in comfortable chairs in front of an empty table. We now had no visible evidence that we ever belonged there. Thankfully the cafe wasn’t all that busy so we weren’t taking seats that ‘paying customers’ should have been able to access. We didn’t stick around too much after that. There was shopping to be done.

So, my question is this, how much time in the comfy chairs does a couple of drinks buy you? Do you linger once your drink is finished or do you leave as soon the last drop is gone? How long is too long to linger? I’d love to read your comments.



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We're going to get along fine

June 20, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
1 Comment

coffee_cup.jpgI made a new friend last night. I get the feeling we’re going to be spending a fair amount of time together over the next few years.

After dropping Emily off at youth group last night I had a couple of hours to kill. I was already fairly close to where we’re going to live once we eventually move so I decided to drive past our new house before dropping in to the local cafe. It’s about a kilometre from the new house and I reckon I might be seeing a lot more of that cafe.

I ordered a long black and a melting moment biscuit then sat down with a book I need to read for a review on my radio programme. It felt like home, or at least a home away from home. The staff were friendly, the atmosphere relaxed, the decor warm, and the coffee was just right.

Things don’t always turn out as you plan but I can imagine that I’ll be back at that cafe very soon. I can imagine spending time there alone with a good book or three. I can imagine taking Pauline there for a bit of time out together. I can imagine taking Emily and James there for a treat now and then. I can imagine drinking coffee there with cycling friends that I haven’t even met yet. If you’re in the area you might drop in and have a coffee with me there too.

That cafe and me, I think we’re going to get along just fine.



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I was that guy

December 1, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
8 Comments

coffee_cup.jpgI’ve seen him plenty of times before.

He’s usually there when I’m having coffee with my cycling mates on Saturday mornings. I’ve seen him as I’ve hurriedly walked past cafés on my way somewhere else. He’s been there when I’ve been enjoying a quiet cuppa with Pauline. He’s there in shopping centres, airports and cafés everywhere.

Sometimes he’s tall and middle aged. Other times he’s a little shorter and fairly young. He’s bald or with a full head of hair. He’s dozens of different people but I always want to be him.

Yesterday I was that guy.

I was the guy sitting on my own in the café, sipping a long black while reading a good book. There’s something very therapeutic about sitting in a busy café, letting the world buzz around nearby as you bury yourself in the pages.

I had to be at Mia Café in Inglewood yesterday for a Christmas afternoon tea. The rest of the family had to be across the other side of town so Pauline dropped me off an hour and a half early. That gave me the opportunity to partake in the magnificent pastime that I see so often yet so rarely enjoy.

Maybe I need to make that one of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2009. “Spend more time alone in cafés.” In 2009 I intend to be that guy a lot more often.



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