Letters to Ann

Dear Ann,

And of course Micheles Pattiserie is Rachelle. It would not be the same without her.  Long before I came to Lakelands this coffee shop was a well known establishment in the community.  From the start it had the aura of a place where you would like to spend time with friends or if you want to read a book while having a coffee the patisserie invites you to do so.

When I moved here over twelve years ago it was where I started meeting my friends for coffee & lunches. It has also been a place of refuge for me when I just needed to get out of the house.

I started going to the patisserie regularly as being in the house all day with no one around you has knobs on it. I like company & I don’t mind if I have someone to chat to in the patisserie or I am just on my own, as long as there are people around me.

Now I go there to have my lunch every day & possibly stay for a couple of hours doing crossword puzzles or just reading the daily newspaper.

My long time friends, Pat & Judy, who worked with me in the pudding kitchen for nearly twenty years, were already well ensconced in the area. Pat hd lived here for decades while Judy was a long time resident in the next suburb.

We would meet once a month for lunch then it got down to fortnightly &, since my sojourn in hospital last year, has been a weekly: every Monday.

We have shared our birthdays in this venue every year with the usual cup cake complete with candle being presented to the birthday girl to blow out & have a wish. This is usually done with a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ being serenaded to us by a couple of the working staff.  Since then it has also been the venue for many birthdays with many more friends whom I have met there.

In the process of meeting new people it has been a natural thing that I have also become friendly with Rachelle’s parents, Sue & Richard.  They often come in to help out in the patisserie, which I think they really enjoy.

Often Richard would sit & chat to me when I was on my own.  He & I have often shared recipes, exchanged bottles of jams & relishes that we both cook & enjoy a relaxed chat in a homely atmosphere.  Sue also sometimes stops serving coffee & sandwiches to take time off having a chat with me & has proved herself to be quite a good friend.  I enjoy those chats.

Rachelle has been managing the patisserie for fourteen years & made it her working life.  She has had to be there very early in the mornings to open up for breakfast at 7 a.m.& face the new day’s trading.  This has been constant &, like little corner stores such as my nephew, Dean, had for many years where you are open to the public every day of the week & every week of the year it is very constant.

The only opportunity for respite is Good Friday & Christmas Day. There is also a half day off to celebrate Anzac Day.  Knowing how difficult it was for my nephew, I used to help out so that he could have a holiday. It’s hard repetitive work.

Just recently I had been noticing that Rachelle looked very pale & didn’t appear to be her usual cheery little self.  All was revealed when, during a very busy day with the patisserie almost packed to the rafters, Sue put a note in front of me which read, “Rachelle is pregnant.” I read this & looked up at Sue with a huge grin & then I read the rest of the note, “& is very very sick.”

That took the grin off my face as my heart went out to the poor girl.   Sue evidently only wanted me to know, but she did explain later that the pregnancy was unexpected. It doesn’t help any with the surprise of being pregnant when sickness is added to the situation.

I didn’t say anything to Rachelle for a few weeks ,but one day she looked a lot better. Upon remarking about it she said she was feeling that way too.

Dawn gives Rachelle her booties and card with Ursula looking on.

I well recall my joy being diminished when I was pregnant the second time & what was commonly called ‘morning sickness’ did not diminish in any way. It went on for the full term of the pregnancy!  Evidently some male called it ‘morning sickness!’  I was feeling for Rachelle,

I wanted to do something to help her be happy with the news & it just so happened that I had a simple little card in my store of cards which I keep. It showed two lovers in a boat on the water with the words ‘Wishing you all the joy your hearts can hold’.

I thought this very appropriate & as I had an appointment at the Mater Hospital around that time I called on their stall to purchase a little pair of bootees.  I found the cutest little pair in a neutral colour.    A few days later I gave Rachelle the tiny parcel with the card. I think she received a nice little surprise that I hope does bring her great joy.

However, of course her greatest joy will be when she & her husband, Nathaniel, see that tiny piece of humanity they created & hold it in their arms. I am sure their joy will be more than they can imagine.

As for the patisserie, there will no doubt be changes, but I am hoping Rachelle will be able to work around being a Mother without the need to sell. I think all of the very regular customers would be very happy  babysitters!!!

God Bless & Much Love.  Dawn X O X O