This morning I set out to do the usual; meet the lovely Mia at Starbucks on the corner of Forest Road and put the world to rights over a latte (hers is a grande, skinny, sugar free, hazelnut latte). But shock horror 1. Mia was at home ill (feel better soon lovey) and 2. due to 'immediate maintenance' Starbucks was closed! Which meant that like me, everyone who would usually pop in about that time walked the short distance to Meadow Walk Starbucks, but the queue was out of the door. So feeling very disgruntled I gave up and wandered about aimlessly for a bit, I even considered going into my old work place from which I've only just been unbarred (company policy is to bar you for a bit if you leave - don't ask) but decided it wasn't worth the awkwardness.
Eventually I ended up at The Elephant House. I've lived in Edinburgh over three years, walked past it on George 4th Bridge literally hundreds of times, but never been in. Despite being an avid Harry Potter fan the fact that it says 'birthplace of Harry Potter' on the window because it's where JK Rowling wrote a lot of the books kind of put me off, I always assumed it was just a place for tourists. But in increasing need of caffeine and slightly curious, I went in.
Wow how wrong can you be about a place?! JK was really onto something here. I am absolutely smitten. So much so that I'm going to make a sweeping declaration and say I'd rather go there than Starbucks from now on. The people at Forest Road might think I've died. Sorry.
I don't think I've ever gotten so much work done in 2 hours! Which is how long I sat there for, I had 2 large lattes and a veggie chilli jacket potato, all of which were lovely, and good for me too! Great coffee. And the staff were so, so friendly, I can't emphasise enough how much of a difference that makes to my mood. I got to sit and read through an article* in peace, enjoy my coffees and lunch on quite a large table without once feeling guilty for being there so long. I even made a friend, horribly I forgot to ask his name, but he looked like a Gary, so lets call him Gary. A software developer from Glasgow who weirdly enough is also applying to do the Graduate Diploma in Law, AND has been to Yorkshire regularly and knows Ilkley (my beautiful home town), he was drinking tea in a take-away cup and sat at the table next to me.
So yes, loved it, and I didn't even realise that through the back room is a view of the castle. Now I have to go back tomorrow just to sit there, and I know to get there early as it filled up so fast after 11.30am. One last thing I promise... Mike, one of the regulars of The Elephant House, keeps a blog about the people he meets when he's there which I think is such a good idea. I really enjoyed having a read through so I'm going to leave you with that in the hope that you'll check it out too. http://theelephantstale.blogspot.com/
*Managing Blame In NHS Weight Management Treatment: Psychologizing Weight and 'Obesity' by Sally Wiggins, 2009 - the article I spent my lunch hour highlighting, my assignment for Critical Social Psychology is to write a critical summary of it.
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