My name is Sheila Pintar and I first came to Hollybush six years ago. I worked for the Probation Service for 20 years and then I retired from there. I went to the NHS as a clerk and then re-trained as a medical secretary; I worked in loads of different departments and hospitals. The last place I worked was dermatology; it was always busy and got stressful so I left.
I’d finished working and I stayed at home for a while; I got a bit fed up and I think I wanted to do some voluntary work but I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I went to the volunteers’ office in town; the lady said there’s somewhere quite near where you live, it’s called Hollybush. I said I’d be interested because I’d passed here a lot and never knew what they did, hadn’t got a clue. So she said they’re opening a café and they’re wanting somebody to work there; I said I’ve never done any of that kind of work, I’ve always worked in an office. So she said do you want go down and see what you think. So I did and Jessica was here; she had a chat with me and said would you like to come in next Tuesday, we’re just starting this café. So I did. There was a young man who worked in the café who made soup. Jessica got the ball rolling and we just did tea and cake; Jessica did a lot of baking and she taught me a lot. I went on food hygiene courses.
I started getting to know a few people and I said I wanted to help in the Learning Disabilities Project (LDP); so I worked there for quite a while on Tuesdays and on Wednesdays I was in the café with Pat who became the café manager. Then I was taken ill and had to have an operation, so I was off for quite a while. I didn’t go back to LDP; I worked for two days in the café and people from LDP started coming to help in the café; we usually do some baking or washing up. The same ones seem to like to come across; others do woodwork or gardening.
I did the beginners’ woodwork course and the next course because somebody told me about it and I thought I’d quite like to do that; I’d never done anything like that before but I found it really interesting and I enjoyed it. I had a lot of help and Tom explained everything and so did Maggie and Russell who helped Tom then. I made a bench which I still have at home on the balcony; it’s been out in all weathers. On the second course I made a bedside cabinet; there was a young lad who did the course with me and we used to compare our cabinets. I came away knowing how to line things up, how to use a saw, how to measure and the names of the tools; I managed not to saw my finger off!
I also did a weaving course with Gemma and found it difficult. I did the course with Tina who used to work in the café; we learnt to do felting. I would like to do another course with Gemma but it’s just fitting it in.
I sometimes help out at events but I like to be at home at weekends. I did the plant sale this year and I’ve done the art trail. I quite like doing the plant sale because we had a few helpers and that makes it easier because then you can have a break.
Hollybush is very handy for me and I thought to myself I don’t want to do office work because I’ve done that all my working life; I wanted a complete change. I thought I’ll give it a whirl. I seem to have got used to it. I get on very well with Pat and I like the customers; you meet lots of different people. I didn’t think I’d be here as long as I have been, but time flies. The café has built up more; the food has more of a variety since Pat’s come. There’s not anything else really different since I came except Tom has made shelves for the spices in the kitchen; and we made the café itself better by putting tablecloths on the tables and getting nicer chairs; it looks brighter now.
Written by Sheila Pintar