A Mexican wave of joy

December 6, 2016 by Ray Morgan

On Friday, I took the day off work and I volunteered my services to help my partner Jo run a pop-up afternoon tea at the Fishermen's Chapel in Old Leigh.

The set-up was this: a cosy afternoon of live music from local band The Daisy Bowlers, delicious home made cakes, and more pots of tea and hot fresh coffee than you can shake a teaspoon at.

Due to the fact it took place on a Friday afternoon when most people are at work, the majority of the people there were elderly, coming in with beetroot cheeks from the cold, bundled up in woolly hats and scarves as the band set up.

We poured hot, delicious coffee that had been freshly brewed, and the audience ordered Jo's home made flapjacks, carrot cake, and cheeky mini yule logs as we had fairy lights on and Christmas music playing.

The Daisy Bowlers are a three-piece comprising ukulele, double bass and piano, with incredible harmonies on songs such as The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and Christmas classics like Santa Baby. They're brilliant; even if the songs aren't usually your bag, you can't fault their tight, professional act, and there's great banter between the band members too.

The audience loved it. They sang along to the songs and it made my heart go all big and before I knew it, I was welling up. These were songs that my late Grandad loved, and I wished he was there, eating ginger cake and quaffing coffee out of a posh cup and saucer, singing along, something he loved to do (he was Welsh, singing was in his blood). I stealthily wiped away the festive tears and thought how lovely it was that this event had brought so much enjoyment to these people. Some came as couples, or groups of friends, and some came alone, tapping their feet to the music.

Halfway through, a young couple came in with a very tiny and incredibly cute weeks-old baby. There was what I can only describe as a Mexican wave of joy through the throng of elderly audience members; you could feel it: all of them twinkling at the baby, gasping at the cuteness and asking how old she was, remembering when their little ones had been born.

It gave me such pleasure pouring tea and serving cake to these people. All of them seemed to be having such a nice afternoon, I can't wait to do it again next time. It's going to be on the 23rd December, at the Fishermen's Chapel, 2-4pm. This time it's a ticketed event (£10 each) and proceeds are going to the family of a young local boy who has a rare form of cancer and has had to have his leg amputated. All the money from the event will go to his family for Christmas. I'll be there, in my pinny, pouring coffee and swaying along to 'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas' desperately trying not to cry at the sweetness of it all. I hope you'll be there too.

Beep Beep Pop-Up Christmas Afternoon Tea feat. The Daisy Bowlers
23 December, The Fishermen's Chapel, Old Leigh
2-4pm
£10 in advance; call Heather on 07879232231 to book

To read all of Ray's previous blogs please click the link https://www.leigh-on-sea.com/blog/tag/ray-morgan.html