Dear Cxxxxxxx Cxxxxxx, Bxxxxx Cxxxxxxx, Nxxx Hxxx, Nxxx Fxxxxxxx, Pxxx Wxxxxxx, Cxxxx Hxxxxx, Bxx Mxxxxxxx, Rxxxxx Pxxxx, Jxxx Hxxxxx, Sxx Bxxxxxxxx, Pxxxx Cxxxxxxx, Jxxx Fxxxxx, Rxxxx Wxxx, Lxxx Exxxx, Sxxxxx Pxxxxx, Mxxxxxx Pxxxxx-Bxxx, Gxxxxx Exxxx, Axxxxx Mxxxxxx, Pxxx Wxxxxxx, and Kxxxx Wxxxx,
A big "THANK YOU" to everyone who helped in the authorising, provisioning, setup and running of the Coffee Shop's booth at "Community Rail in the City" at Reading yesterday ... I have no less than 20 names jotted down, half of whom gave up most of there day and one (you know who you are) helped on the previous evening too. Without you it would not have happened.
The day was fun, the day was a great experience (I hope you share those views!) and the day achieved a number of objectives. Tick, tick, tick. There are (aren't there always) things to learn so we can be even more effective and have even more fun if we do something like this again. A further writeup once I've gone through the feedback and perhaps had another night's sleep.
On a personal note, I really appreciate the friendly and supportive approach that everyone's taken on this and on other Coffee Shop things; this note / those "named" above are not only Coffee Shop members, but also professionals with whom we interact. And that extends to others with whom we interacted yesterday (and with whom I interacted on Tuesday on my way up, and today (Thursday) on my way back as Isambird Kingdom Brownowl travelled through various stations and on various
GWR▸ trains.
I used to be a daily commuter into London .. and yesterday I was reminded why it's called the rush hour. It's because everyone is in a rush ... everyone walking briskly or even running as they transfer between trains or buses and trains. Indeed for some it was the "running hour". And that means that most have little or no time to stop, talk, look around. But it was wonderful that out of that passing crowd, a number of people (not just one or two) who are Coffee Shop members, or are "lurkers" who read us but don't post came over for a chat, and gave us an overwhelming "thank you" and "keep up the good work" - I really appreciated that. And others too, with whom we spoke and had not come across the Coffee Shop before, even immediate signups during the day. I have a box of enquiry / comment slips and I'll be seeding threads with new questions over the next week to ten days to help get these people answers, or emailing them a link to threads / answers already on the forum. This is - so much - what we're about; if an issue can be addressed, that goes a long way to solving it, finding an alternative, or at least understanding why things are as they are.
Once again - many thanks. I hope everyone who helped can find their name hidden in the top list - if not my sincere apologies as we were a big, effective and enthusiastic team which I am proud to be a member of. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen
A part of our team (morning shift, I think) at Reading:
IsamBIRD Kingdom BrunOWL on his was back to roost, looking at the modern incarnation of his Great Western Railway
