My Last Saturday
I can’t believe the time has come. This Saturday will be the last Saturday that Good Souls Bakery will be serving lunch and selling cakes and bakes at The Waiting Room. See my final menu here.
I always knew it wouldn’t be forever and actually we have been there for longer than I could have dreamt but it’s still a wrench to realise that this is our final Saturday. Having a place to cook and serve food was a dream but Marc and all involved with The Waiting Room enabled me to make it a reality. Initially I was terrified.
I shouldn’t have been…
The Waiting Room was forgiving, everyone was supportive and allowed me to find my feet and develop Good Souls food into what I wanted it to be – globally inspired, vegetarian and vegan, wholesome, hearty and affordable. I also discovered after a long career in magazine writing and all things media, that, actually, feeding people makes me truly happy.
It was in April 2015 that Good Souls initially popped up at the Waiting Room, alongside All In the Making activities of screen printing, sewing and weaving. Not many eateries in Colchester had the added attraction of a working spinning wheel! All In The Making generously crafted me a beautifully hand made apron and screen printed tea towels and bags as well as cake loving creatives for customers. This place has a marvellous magnetism, attracts a special kind of clientele and I’m delighted to call many of them good friends now.
I have also been so lucky with all the people who have worked alongside me at the bar or helping with the serving and the endless washing up. Absolute Good Souls, each and everyone – Aileen, Beth, Tristan, Poppy, Jenny, Annabel, Abi and of course, Marnie. There from day one, the epitome of calm, even when everything that could go wrong did go wrong, I would just look at Marnie’s serene face and take a deep breath. And of course, none of this would have happened without Marc and all who work with him.
So much hard work put in from people who do it for the good of Colchester, to make a difference and to offer something different from the High Street. Marc has been such a positive force: supportive, pushing me along when the fear struck and always encouraging. I will admit we have had quarrels over certain issues but I now have to concede, he was ALMOST always right. (The hardest sentence I have ever had to type).
The chefs at The Waiting Room have been a great influence. I may be the oldest (the second hardest sentence I have ever had to type), but I was the least experienced and blown away by the amazing food produced by the talent of all who cook at the Waiting Room. I still am and have also discovered that not only are they talented but also very generous with advice and encouragement.
It’s not only sad for me to think that all the events at The Waiting Room will come to an end but that The Waiting Room building itself will be gone in the not too distant future. There was another time in my life when I spent many Saturdays under this roof and that was when it was the old bus station café. As a 14 year old I’d be sitting at a sticky Formica table drinking milky tea, waiting for the bus back to Tiptree with my best mate Romi, who was to become the mother of Marnie, my trusty Good Souls sidekick – see it was all meant to be! Imagine if someone told the 14 year old me I would one day be serving food at that very venue. I would have been distraught but what the 14 year old me could never have realised back then is that the old bus station would be transformed into the wonderful world of The Waiting Room and that standing behind the counter has made me happier than I could have imagined.
So many great memories - Gunpowder Gertie and All In the Making wreath day, Bazaars, The Free Festival preparations sessions, Green Party event, Mini Ale Festival, serving lunch while a string quartet played during Roman River Festival, making a Letterpress inspired menu, Sam blasting something bloody brilliant during a soundcheck, the wonderfully talented Lee Thomas generously giving me a book of his amazing food illustrations, Tristan’s pranks - I could go on and on and on. In fact every day that I have been at The Waiting Room, something has happened to restore my faith in humanity, in this town, make me laugh and reassure me that I’m following the right path. I don’t know where Good Souls is going to end up next but I do hope we bring a bit of The Waiting Room magic with us.
Such lovely and true words Emma. There is going to be a big hole for sure. Only time will tell if we are able to fill it with something equally positive and true. If we stay united we can!
I will miss your marvellous food and your kind cheerful presence on a Saturday Emma. It is the only place to go after work and now the place to go won’t be there. I have met so many lovely people here whilst eating your food or happily sat here alone.
I hope you find somewhere new soon. I’ll be first in the very long queue. Colchester and the World needs people like you.
Please keep us posted where you will be on your next part of your journey. Keep cooking amazing food and delighting so many people x
What warm words! And Emma its been great getting to know you over the last few years of The Waiting Room’s current incarnation, and have also totally loved trying all your delicious foods. Keep us posted on what you’re unto next…all the best Emma & thank you!
Emma it has been wonderful to watch you turn a passion , hobby a dream into a business. You had a successful career in journalism & I am so proud to witness your progress. Thankyou so much taking Marnie under your wing, she has learnt to much with you & all at the Waiting room . I know it is not goodbye Good souls it will simply continue & grow in another guise in a different venu . The reason being is that my dearest friend
You are ‘Good souls’ . Xx
Onwards and upwards
Dear Emma. Thank you for filling up my lunch box to bring to a cold office room at the university last winter. It is difficult to find food that carries great care and love like yours. I’m very sure it will find its way to warm and enrich us again. Love love.
What lovely words Em. You truly are a ‘good soul’ and have found your vocation in life now. Your food is delicious and needs to be eaten by the good folk of Colchester 😘😘😘
Thank you for being there with your delicious food, explanations and smile. Good luck with whatever’s next and we’ll be there! Xxx