I go for the garden. Apart from the tasty coffee, the friendly service, the yummy food and lovely kitsch surroundings, it’s the garden …

At the moment it’s simply flourishing in colour, despite it’s person being laid up with an injury and unable to tend to it for the last few weeks. I’d say that’s a sign of a well designed garden. Of course, there is a loving and appreciative community who help pull a weed out here and there while they’re waiting for their morning coffee.

Ailsa lives across the road and down a couple of houses. I’ll have to do a part 2 on her own beautiful native garden with the well stocked street library in the front corner. A place I visited many times when I lived in the area during Covid lockdowns and we were allowed outside within a 5k radius.
The highlight of the cafe garden for me is the Bluebells. Special memories from childhood of carefree wandering and picking wildflowers.

I had hoped to interview Ailsa and get a photo or two but she’s out of action at the moment with aforementioned injury. I try to catchup with her in the new year and maybe showcase her garden as well.

Thomson St Cafe. 81 Thomson St, Northcote ( I would have said Fairfield), is closed now for Christmas and will reopen on 5th Jan.