Intermezzo

Sad, sad, sad.

Today was my last visit to this place for at least a year. Along with the whole of the Tyneside Cinema to which it’s attached, it’s closing for a massive refurbishment, and won’t be open again till 2008. I am absolutely gutted. After home and work, this is the place I have probably spent the most time in the last five years – so much so that I’d practically become part of the furniture, welcomed by name, sitting in the “regulars” seat at the bar so as to chat to the staff, and rarely having to pay for my coffee. Many of my friendships have been forged or nurtured here, and there are so many happy memories of laughter and caffeinated silliness. There are sad memories too, of complex and difficult conversations, negotiations and breakups. My home from home, whenever I popped in I was guaranteed the best cup of frenzy-inducing coffee in town and that at least one person I knew would be there, if not one of the many other regulars then one of the super-friendly baristas, including my brother, his girlfriend, mates I had already and newbies who quickly became friends.

I went in today for a final nostalgic coffee and was close to shedding a tear. The whole staff is moving wholesale to another local arthouse cinema and its coffee shop, and I’ll visit as often as I can, but I can’t help feeling it’s the end of an era.

Intermezzo, my bolthole in the storm, my refuge, my favourite waste of time, I salute you. You will be sadly, sadly missed.