Subject: LNL report Sat 28th Sept 2024
Tonight's five person team had a quick update chat before leaving base camp for the 'wild' streets of ye olde City of Lichfield. There was much to update folk on, new volunteers coming on board, successful funding applications with Lichfield City Council and Staffordshire Community Foundation as well as Tesco's Community Champion, Charlotte securing us Tea, Coffee, biscuits, Hot Chocolate and more as a Tesco and LNL partnership is formed.
Anyways, it was time to head out and set up our table in a night time environment that was seemingly, a busy one! Two ladies sort of snuck up on us, one of them saying she was cold and picking up one of the team members hiviz jacket she put it put on (said team member had just gone to visit the loo in the Brewhouse and Kitchen). This young lady seemed to want to make up for her cheekiness by inviting us all to share her pizza (very nice) but told us it was a Margarita which actually turned out to be something spicy with slices of Jalapeno chillies on top (not nice!!). Her friend spent most of the time giggling and taking endless videos of her friend on her phone. We ended up with them discovering we had flip flops - and they both had high heels on so a transaction occurred and they eventually headed for the taxi rank relishing their ability to walk in flatties and no longer needing to totter on their heels.
A young man came to buy a coffee off us and was temporarily confused when we would have money off him...then he told us he thought we were some kind of mobile coffee shop! (which in some way, I suppose we are). A group of youngers came by and, realizing that all the tea and biscuits were free, proceeded to all have one and help themselves to biscuits, but they were so polite - despite one of them holding on tight to a small Vodka bottle - that we were somewhat charmed by their manners.
One of our team got asked by a rather drink-fuelled man if we were all 'into God 'n stuff'...this resulted in a conversation about spirituality, karma, church and his personal declaration of trying to be a good person. His, much less drink-fuelled, friend came over after a while and joined in the conversation in a very respectful manner. As a rule we generally endeavour not to get too drawn into conversations around religion with those who may have had a few too many.
A very friendly chap by the name of Adrian came by and stayed sometime at the table chatting about all sorts of things but especially displaying his knowledge of blues music and artists. He seemed a bit of a loner and was only too happy to chat to any of us who would listen and engage with him... and that is what we are about to be fair. There was a regular presence of Police throughout the night and even a couple on foot at one point.
Security man, Bobby sensed it was time for some chips and they duly arrived, piping hot and eagerly devoured by the team as we made moves to pack down and head back for home.