Best Laid Plans… and the dirty truth about Belisily

Greetings my friends! Allow me to quickly reminisce before we get to this week’s news about the cafe… because today marks the 6th anniversary of Auntie Kitty’s launch date. I’ve had some incredible opportunities present themselves to me since Auntie Kitty’s inception. Working with some magnificent businesses, celebrating hundreds of parties, and welcoming Belisily Play Cafe into the Rainbow Party family to name just a few. I’ve made friends for life with colleagues and customers alike. I’ve also had some extremely sorrowful experiences due to COVID in particular and learnt a lot from best laid plans that didn’t go exactly how I thought since we started out at Datchworth Sports Club all those years ago, but here we are.. and in a celebratory mood so I would like to say thank you to every single one of you who’ve supported me in over these six years, in each and every way – big and small. It takes not just a village but a real community to keep businesses like mine alive; I have been overwhelmed by the love and support received these past few weeks since the official announcement from Dena that Auntie Kitty was moving in to Belisily! Clearly you all love rainbows as much as I do… and now.. let’s dive in:

How are you? What have you been up to this week? Did you have a plan that you’ve put into action recently or are you midway through your plans? How did that work out for you? I ask because my plans did NOT go how I thought they would this week. Or last week. Or the week before that in fact. Perhaps I’m not a great planner in retrospect, and my skills are more aligned with problem solving!

Am I worried that my plans didn’t work out? No. You’ve got to plan but then play around and try things, and keep planning and readjusting and learning – as long as we keep a positive mindset and keep believing and pushing forward I’ve seen that things can work themselves out. Maybe not in the way you thought but a positive attitude definitely helps.

Before the doors to Belisily closed on the 31st January I was all geared up; excited to begin refurbishing the cafe with intentions to be ready to serve you all takeaways within a week and then have the garden reopen for visitors in half term. How silly and sweet and how wrong I was, how little I knew – over ambitious to say the least. With the sheer amount of ideas I have, a week to make the changes I wanted… well that was never going to be enough time – I may never get enough time – lessons are being learnt the hard way but its ok, as Dolly says: we learn from our mistakes and we grow! It is therefore a good thing to look back – just not in anger… with a kind eye.

How it's been going...

So what have we done so far? In week 1 there were two precious days of Dena’s help whilst things were secretly handed over (I also received countless offers of help once you guys knew it was me taking over the cafe, for which I am incredibly grateful for, but at this stage Dena was the one – she knows where the bodies are buried after all! Having lived and breathed this cafe for years, she bestowed upon me a detailed and thoughtful handover, however she now refuses to come into the cafe as she wants “the big reveal” – so if you’re reading this Dena, THANK YOU and look away now as spoilers are coming.

The rest of week 1 came and went in an excited flash of decluttering, further handovers, coffee machine servicing and welcoming back Becs and Rikki. Most things went much as could be expected but I didn’t take into consideration a few things, especially how long those “invisible labours” can take. In addition, the reality of the situation started to hit me – LET THE GAMES BEGIN! I have designs on creating a more focussed play area (more on this below) and a reading nook, so the week ended with some bouji treasures from my stash making their way to the cafe which I hope will give that Auntie Kitty extra-don’t-save-it-for-best lifestyle feel. Will it work? Who knows. Half the fun isn’t it?

Week 2 was more sorting, rehoming some things via the Willow Foundation next door, and further assimilating myself from ‘frequent cafe visitor’ to the Grand Fromage. There were some secret-squirrel meetings with potential class providers… you know who you are. I’m excited!

Then came the dust. You know the kind, like miserable all-consuming drizzle on a grey day. It gets into every nook and despite my best efforts to drape everything with tarp, table cloths and sheets like a kaleidoscope of chaos, the cafe was still dusted like a Pandoro at Christmas. It has been worth it though and with careful incisions into the kitchen wall – did I mention we are on a shoestring here? – we were able to preserve and save as much of the existing building materials as possible. Incisions you say, Auntie Kitty? For why Auntie Kitty? Well, to create a doorway of course. The doorway will replace the existing hatch, so that additional seating can be created and the appliances in the kitchen have been rearranged to create a new flow. Paints have been purchased in a rainbow array and many trips back and forth between cafe and home continued, bringing in all the ‘ever so useful and beautiful’ things I’ve saved over the years – now is their time to shine and become useful – but they mostly remain under the tarp… for now. Oh, and plants, not the plastic kind, have arrived ready to introduce some greenery into those sunny windows. Thank you to Cheryl for sorting me out before your half term holidays, you are a legend!

How it's going now...

Week 3 has slowed a bit. An unfortunate collision with half term. I think most working parents know the guilt and excruciating compromises involved with your kids, when you have to work and they want you there (or at least want your attention) but enter Mr Will Nash. With ever unwavering love and devotion he has supported both me and the girls more than ever this week by fully stepping into the role that I normally hold at home; the polka dot dress was perhaps a step too far but I do appreciate the style and effort of not just becoming “Daddy Daycare” but seamlessly taking over when I needed to tap out – teamwork makes the dream work!

How's it going to go? The dirty truth...

So what is the dirty truth about Belisily? Well, the current dirt and dust is temporary but when we reopen you should know a few things. The cafe, often described as cozy and a little… bijoux… has been accumulating a not-so-secret mountain of things over the years; the pile under the tarpaulin says the cafe is really Dr Who’s Tardis but sometimes less is more. A strange thing to say for someone so extra, I know, but here is where my experience as a children’s entertainer and play area provider some in. It is time to strategically streamline the play things, going forward we will be editing down the toys and regularly rotating the items in the cafe to reduce wear and tear, help give our little visitors deeper engagement and focus in their play, inspire more creativity and importantly to help our staff keep on top of cleanliness in the play area!

Streamlining and building on the existing good things (there are many) is the focus for me, and there will be more changes introduced as part of the reopening.. but I thought today was time to confirm one burning question that I think many people have by now: am I planning on charge any extra fees for play? The answer is ‘yes’, but it’s complicated. A ‘pay for play’ charge will bring in some much needed revenue to help to fund some of the changes we are planning and then maintain them. Where and how this cost will be covered is still being reviewed but the new pricing structure will be announced next week along with the opening date, and you will be able to pre-book your spot here on the website for opening week!!