On my way to work this morning to the Best Cafe Ever, two rainbows rose like double ellipses, I had to pull over for a photo catch. I couldn’t see their landing spot but I saw their launchpads. A field, just a field, of scarped silage, the huge lemony bags stacked and ready for the winter ahead. I watched the rise and flow of ancient grassy folds and thought about the old rocks beneath, the upholders. I like to get to work early. I like the set-up, the fill of the water dispenser, the lift of teaspoon jam into the tiny beautiful cups of hand-made pottery. I like the set up of tables, adding wee rubber wedges ‘neath legs which, being uniform, cannot accommodate the tapselteerie of old floor tiles. I like to wash up all of the huge pile of now freed bake tins, cake, scone and bun containers, the whisks and piping wotwots, the many scootcups of tried-out coffee until the maestro gets the blend just right for the day ahead. I tweak what flowers we have now and the lights go on in a welcome. In the summer months we can see many folk lurking beyond the doors, but not now. Now the autumn is here and, with her arrival, visitors few down. Our working hours are less, our visitors more likely to be locals, and we have the time to stop and chat, to hear about their lives. We have one week left and I will miss the connection with the team, with the couple who took the brave decision to make this cafe their own.

I am so glad they did. When I, with much doubt in my mind, asked for work with them in 2025, I really didn’t think they would take me on, old me, but they did and it made me realise I can be a right eejit about myself. I love every minute of my part in the team, a team they have created. Every single one of us work for them because of them. I realise, if they read this, that I am about to embarass them, but it needs to be said. Every step of the way, they have been gentle and kind and encouraging. They have, in difficult situations, found a positive way for us all to move forward. They are welcoming every morning and thankful after every shift, however long, however overwhelming, which has definitely been the case at times with a sudden and demanding rush. For such youngsters they amaze me. To be exhausted, as they must have been over the past two island seasons, and yet still to turn up, to find ways around confounding situations, and more, to keep tabs on each member of staff, to watch, to allow, to show respect and kindness even if that meant one member down, is the evidence and the truth of true leadership.

I look forward to next year, as long as it doesn’t come too soon! I can hear them say that. It remembers me of my time as a young ‘boss’ in the melee and unpredictability of visitors to where (as widely pressed in the press) has earned itself the title ‘The Place to Visit in the UK’. For now, or soon, we rest awhile, even though there may be weekends through December when the cafe welcomes us into the warm and the bakes and the chat and the laughs. And there is always that in the Best Cafe Ever. There is always yes we can do that, unless it’s impossible. There is always, there is a play area down there for little ones. There is always, yes please bring your dogs in, yes please move tables together, yes we will sort the water you brought in on your soaked coats, yes we can do a smaller this, a larger that. It is a Yes place. To work within such a team is inspirational. We need, we want to be dynamic and engaged every minute with full compass thinking and response because of them.

This place alives me. They do, the young leaders. I thank them.