Duncan has managed to create a wonderful warm, welcoming place for locals here in The Hope Café in Hove; actually not only for locals, as its reputation draws outsiders to push open the door. Next year he hopes to open a little boutique bookshop next door, so customers can drift between the two, reading, perusing the titles recommended, supported by coffees and delicious Brazilian tarts and pastries. He’d mentioned to his regulars that ‘minced pies and mulled wine’ would be available yesterday afternoon, the latter free as he has no licence to sell alcohol.
Never one to miss an opportunity for a party, I stopped drafting some future postcard on my laptop, turned off the Christmas decoration lights and walked down to The Hope Café. As I pushed open the door I was met by the sounds of conversation and of clinking glasses, by the warmth of a cosy place and by the vibes of people enjoying themselves; felt good to be part of this community. I wasn’t sure whether all the regulars could be there but, knowing I had promised Mo my attention, had a quick scan of the room and spotted her; being tall has its advantages!
Before I got to Mo, I grabbed a couple of mince pies and asked Libby if she could provide me with a double espresso (Note 1).
“Wow! Mo! So good to see the place so busy. Sorry I had to dash when we last met (See PC 416 Catch Up in The Hope 6th December 2024) but Sami and I had chatted for too long! I needed to go.”
“That’s fine Richard. I wanted to ask you what you make of the recent debate on ‘Assisted Dying’? My mother’s been challenging me to talk about it.”
“There’s nothing wrong with her, nothing terminal?”
“No! No! But it’s become a major conversation piece in the residential village in Shoreham where she lives.”
“I’m with the majority of the population, that there needs to be a legal way for terminally ill adults to end their lives, subject to ‘safeguards and protections’ etc. Too often we read of individuals going to Dignitas in Switzerland to end their lives and that’s only available to those who can afford it. Thousands of others in the UK end their lives in pain and in a fog of medication. Fortunately Members of Parliament passed the first reading of the ‘Assisted Dying’ Bill by 330 to 275, but it’s got a long way to go, into committee, then the Report Stage which could bring amendments etc, before more votes and being sent to the House of Lords. It’s possible this could all take a couple of years.”
“Let’s hope neither of us, nor my mother, have to contemplate such action! On a happier note, have you read Robert Harris’ latest book, Precipice?”
Suddenly there’s a lull in the conversation as a couple of chaps walk into the café, Luke followed by Josh. For those of you not familiar with the toings and froings of The Hope Café, last year Josh was a barista behind the counter. Then Hamas attacked Israel on 7th October 2023 and slaughtered 1,195 human beings. Josh, whose great grandparents were Ukrainian Jews, felt the call to arms. Despite suffering minor wounds in a drone attack on his Northern Israel post and his repatriation to the UK, he had gone back some months ago to continue to do what he thought he should. Now he’s back and looks very happy!
Luke clinks a glass with a teaspoon; there’s an immediate hush.
“Josh is back, back for good! He wants me to say he’s happy to chat about his experiences in due course, but this afternoon just wants to savour the strange normality of being here.” Raising his glass he cries: “To Josh.” And everyone joins in ‘To Josh’ then everyone starts talking, the sound like water pouring off a waterfall.
I look at Mo:
“That’s a relief; Luke’s obviously delighted! The situation in the Middle East has changed so much in the last two weeks that today it’s impossible to guess what may materialise. Israel seems to have neutered both Hamas and Hezbollah, and the fall of that shit Assad in Syria has given a headache, however temporary, to both Russia and Iran. So let’s pray that after so much killing, more level-headed, more pragmatic leaders will emerge.
“Some hope ……!! Look let’s talk about Harris’ book, brilliant by the way, next time. I want to go and catch up with Sami and Lisa who I see over there near the counter. But before I go, did I tell you I have been asked by Duncan whether I would help run the Hope Bookshop next door when it opens – he hopes by Easter.”
“That’s very exciting! By the way Happy Christmas …..”
I see Libby behind the counter, that she’s been joined by her niece Susie; Luke and Josh are sitting on stools chatting to them. Scanning the room I also see Robert with Lisa, and Anna. I go and sit next to her as it’s easier to talk to someone in a wheelchair if you’re both on the same level! Kate, who’s been a temporary barista, has joined us and …….
And so the afternoon slips into the evening, the Christmas lights brighter against the gloom outside, and no one is showing any indication of leaving. Ah! I think Duncan’s going to saying something ……..
Richard 20th December 2024
Hove
PS Pope Francis’ autobiography, out next month, is called ‘Hope’.
PPS Other postcards relating to Christmas are PC 27 ‘Christmas’ from 2014, PC 210 Christmas Lights (2020), PC 262 Christmas Eve Post (2021), PC 314 ‘23rd December – A Story’ (2022) and PC 318 All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth (January 2023) (Ed. Grammatically it should surely have been ‘All I Want for Christmas are my two front teeth’. The lyrics were written in 1940)
Note 1 I used to love well-made mulled wine but today a coffee will be perfect.
postcards 