My last stranger was Jon being filmed out and about in Winchester. One scene required him to purchase a coffee from Flat Whites, a café housed in a retro caravan in Market Street, Winchester.
Serving this coffee, (about six times over as retakes were necessary) was Judy. When the film crew moved on, I asked her if she, too, would be in my strangers' project. She was very happy to agree.
Naturally, I had to take the photos, and also ask Judy for some information about herself, between customers. Firstly I was interested to know about Flat Whites which, judging by the number of customers on a cold day, is doing really well.
Judy was on duty with Callum and she explained that they work in pairs and Flat Whites is the business of her friend, Abbey, who, together with her mother, makes all the cakes and biscuits.
There are five people in the team and Flat Whites has been open for 18 months. Judy has worked in the café for the past year. I asked her if she likes it and her response was, "I love it!" She certainly looked happy.
In her leisure time Judy enjoys reading a variety of authors and also likes cycling. But her main love is snowboarding and she has already spent two seasons working abroad and indulging her passion.
I had no pencil or paper with me as I was not expecting to find portraits so Judy wrote her email address on a paper bag so she could receive a copy of her photo from me.
It seems to me to be quite a brave venture to open a café in a retro caravan with outdoor seating in the English climate, even if it is in the south of England and I think it's great that it is doing so well.
Good luck to Abbey and all her team for the future. I'll certainly be patronising Flat Whites next time I am in Winchester.
I am always so impressed with folks who have the entrepreneurial spirit. I have a feeling this business will be quite successful. Judy looks to be one of their best assets with her winning smile and enthusiasm. Another delightful portrait and story!
Another great portrait and story. Is Flat White coffee a thing in England? Living here in Canada I'd never heard of them till a few years ago on a trip to Australia. Now they are starting to show up at our local Starbucks but for a while anyone I meet who knew about a flat white seems to be from Oz.
Superb portrait with wonderful detail and colour Judy looks well wrapped up to serve those hardy alfresco dinners, thank Hazel for including for her interesting story:)
Joanne, I'd never heard of Flat White before and doing a Google it seems to mean many different things.