I was that guy

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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Summer Reading Challenge

book.jpgToday marks the first day of the Premier’s Summer Reading Challenge 2007-08.

Over the summer holidays children around Western Australia are being challenged to spend time reading. By registering for the Challenge, children can win a range of prizes. I also see that parents who read to their child will go in a special prize draw to win one of two iPods.

Both Emily and James will be taking part once again so I’ll need to encourage them to make an extra effort to read over the coming weeks. Both are great readers already so it shouldn’t be such a difficult task.

The Challenge runs from the 6th of December to the 11th of February. Every child who successfully finishes the Challenge receives a certificate signed by the Premier.

I reckon it’s a great way to encourage kids to read but I’m wondering if I need to join in and start my own Summer Reading Challenge. Do you want to join me? What kind of target will you set yourself? How many books do you think you can read over the next couple of months?

I know that it’s not Summer for a lot of readers but surely Winter is a great time to curl up in your favourite chair with a book.



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