It was heading for sub zero temperatures as our splendid, well wrapped up, team of five, prepared to set out onto the city streets on this first foray of 2025.
We were able to set up our table of warm refreshments back in our old spot out of the biting winds. Despite the dropping temperatures the team were all in positive spirits, and ready for anything.
The second week in January is famously dull so, as expected, there were less people out and about tonight.
We went in pairs for walks around the city. We were approached by four young men, who were enquiring as to the whereabouts of the nearest brothel, we politely declined to inform them (not that we had that particular inside knowledge anyway!!!). Adam, one of our regular homeless people, was close by. He eventually came to have a hot drink from our table and seeing that he looked frozen we gave him a silver heat-wrap to try to keep his body warm, as well as a couple of the hand warmers.
We were joined for a while by Ian, whose dad was a local teacher and artist, who turns out to have a road in Lichfield named after him.
We did dispense some hot drinks, however, no-one wanted to stay and chat for very long and who could blame them? The Siberian-like weather meant that the City remained cold and quiet. We observed a solitary police officer patrolling by. The quietness of the night was evidenced by the lack of comms on the radio. The ever reliable Bobbie refreshed us with hot chips around midnight. The taxi rank had only a couple of cars in waiting (as opposed to a whole wagon train' of them on other nights, and as it drew colder, the decision was taken to stand down 20 minutes earlier than usual.
It was good to be out with a willing team serving to offer a warm welcome as well as a warm cuppa where and when we were needed.