I have covered 'Why' to build a Coffee Trailer, and I have explained 'How' to build your own.
Now comes the time for me to cover another 'Why'.. This time it's 'Why' I have decided to sell my beloved little business venture.
It was January 2021. I had been back a little over a month from an intense two years of teaching Scuba Diving and drinking Rum in Southeast Asia.
The future looked bleak. England was gripped by the Coronavirus Pandemic and I had returned to a Country full of Lockdown uncertainty.
I had to find a Job, but I also had to consider my welfare and that of my family. All but Key Workers were working from home which made the prospect of finding a nice cushy office job close to impossible.
And so Vanbliss was born. I have covered this all in previous posts so I won't bore you and bang on about it again here.
My first day of trading was Saturday 22nd July 2021. I pitched up in a pub carpark in the hope of enticing the morning commuters for a Barista Coffee on their way to work... I made a grand total of £16.20
The following day I went to the same place, having decided that some of the people driving by the previous day might not have had any money or time to react, but today they may have planned ahead.
I made £ 0.00.
All was not lost, I was approached by the Manager of the Business next door who said that I could park in their carpark. The business was at the side of the Canal and primarily sold equipment to the passing Narrowboats.
The weather was lovely and the school Summer holidays had begun .
I very quickly found myself with a few 'Regulars' and plenty of trade from the passing boats. 'Winner' I thought.
Then, On August 12th, Just 26 days after opening.. It all came crashing down.
I caught Coronavirus. And it wasn't the "oh no I have tested positive for Covid" 'Cough Cough' type of virus.
It was the world ending, bed ridden for 37 days variety.
It wasn't until Monday 20th September that I felt well enough to return to 'the grind' (<- See what I did there 🙃)
By that time, everything had changed.. My Regulars had become Regulars at other places, the School Holidays had finished and the weather was already turning less than favourably for an outside Coffee Shop.
Still, I plodded on for a while before having to face facts that, Canal Side, away from the attention of passing motorists was no longer feasible.
Since then I have been to lots of different Events and also found a great little spot closer to home on an Industrial Estate where I constantly receive gratitude from customers for making 'Proper Coffee' available to them where before they only had Instant.
But, If it's going well for you again, why are you now selling it George?
The answer is a simple one.. I want to go travelling again.
If it wasn't for the Pandemic, right now I would be one year into a two year Contract teaching Scuba Diving in Borneo.
The Virus put a stop to all of that and I had to return home.
I'm not kidding when I say, there were a couple of times during my Coronavirus infection that I honestly thought I wasn't going to make it.
But I did make it. I am officially heavier than I was before I caught it, and the hair that I lost because of it has pretty much completely grown back (albeit with far more greys than before).
In December I decided that 2022 was going to be the year of travel, new experiences, embracing life and living for the moment.. that kind of thing.
My plan was (and still is) to travel from Mexico, down through Central and South America to Ushuaia and then to Brazil for a little while because.. well.. why not?
I have set an approximate date to fly which is at the beginning of May. I intend to see everything that all of those Countries have to offer, get involved with local community projects and of course, try all of the food. At the same time I have my sights set on Daily Blogging of the Adventure as well as producing a weekly YouTube Video.
There is just one tiny thing holding me back.. Well actually there are three tiny things holding me back, although only one of those things can prevent me going.
The Tiny Things;
1; Learn Spanish
I have been told that without at least basic Spanish, Latin American Countries can be quite difficult to navigate.
To remedy this I intend to enrol in an online intensive language course where you speak one to one with a teacher for the majority of the day.
2; Pre YouTube Famous, Diet and Exercise.
I figure that if I am going to take a stab at YouTube fame. It would be good to at least not get out of breath walking to the Fridge.
3; Money.
Necesito Dinero
This isn't a Quiz.. Money (or lack thereof) is what I can't leave without. And this is why I don't have an exact date set for departure.
So I am selling my Coffee Van to fund the trip!
I am hoping that because we are headed out of Winter now and as of today there are no restrictions in place any longer.. Someone is going to see the Van and realise that it was destined for them all along.
You are probably wondering what my Plan B is if nobody buys the Van in the next 8 Weeks.
Plan B ; I am buying a Lotto Ticket every Saturday for the next 8 Saturdays.
So, I might not even need to sell the Van.
You never know what's around the corner.
So you might as well fly to Mexico.
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