Time For Tea

After 2023 when I was so ill with wrong medications for migraines, and was literally on the floor crying and having severe panic attacks, I never imagined that this two year anniversary of that month, I would be painting candy colours onto our forthcoming atelier tea lounge!

After finishing the gallery next door in time for a summer arts exposition, we finished our atelier and upper studio, but we felt we could do more for the area than teaching creative art and providing space for exhibitions. And we needed regular income.

We had both worked in hospitality and liked cafe life, so it was a natural progression to develop one here in such a good space with a lot of land for parking and access.

France has a habit of closing. Lunchtimes are twelve to two and often cafes are shut for some odd reason from two, so bad luck if your needing a cuppa at say 4pm. They close Mondays, mornings, Sundays and whenever they want. It’s messy and I still can’t accept it.

We asked our friends and the overriding response was to have a tea lounge that served cakes and snacks all day, every day would be heaven. So we are.

But what of our creativeness? Will it go on hold? Absolutely not. In the lounge we have a working space linked to my office where we can continue to create when there is no customers or only one of us is needed. I won’t stand around arranging napkins to look busy.

So after a lot of upcycling and getting tables at a silly cost of just €5 in a brocante sale, discounted paint, and wardrobe backs to make panelling, we are almost ready. We installed an expanse of windows and doors to give more light and open up in the summer. Machines have been purchased to make tea, coffee and hot chocolate; a large fridge for sandwiches and along with myself, a friend is making scrumptious cakes.

We will open at noon and close 7pm winter and 10pm summer. There will be a beer garden too..very much needed as France has no pubs or restaurants that cater for this summertime pleasure.