Day in the life of Polly

My morning starts at 8am when I start gathering supplies for the day with my super cool trolley. I'm lucky enough to only have a short walk into work and its through the beautiful Cathedral grounds. I start with the supermarket for bread, milk, salad etc things that need to bought fresh every day. Next I head to the butchers, Appleton's, this is a local pork butchers, that was established in 1867, they sell the all time best ham ever. Fact. Next on to the bakers, Thomas, this is also a local bakers, and have great teacakes which go down a storm in the cafe. Next I pop into the green grocers for my free range eggs, and then off I go to the cafe.

The next hour or so is busy setting up, baking scones, icing cakes, making sandwich fillings, and any other jobs that need doing. 

10am, open up the cafe, there are usually a few regulars loitering around by this time and I set about getting them there orders that they don't have to even ask for any more. 

On busier days I have staff come in at 11am, not wanting to sound cheesy but I have the two best girls working for me. They are so lovely, reliable, great with customers, hard working and best of all we all have things in common, it's great to get to work with people who inspire you and like the things you like. 

In general it's pretty steady all day, lots of tea is poured and scones are served, the good thing about Ripon is it doesn't really have a 'season' it doesn't get mad busy in the summer but then it doesn't get really quiet in January, I love that it just ticks along all year at the same pace, it makes for a reliable income to say the least. 

By 4pm I slowly start closing down the cafe, it closes at 5pm, and usually I'm away by 5.30pm. I either head home to make soup / jam / chutney or stop off with my friend Beth at our local watering hole, the One Eyed Rat for a quick half a cherry beer and a pickled egg...today is one of those days... Xx