Third Spaces

I love my Friday morning routine: After sorting the kids out for school, I jump on to a weekly online shacharit minyan (morning prayer group) before heading out to play tennis. Absolute bliss. Regardless of the score, I always leave the court energised, elated and grounded. Then, I go to The Fruit Stall to top up on the good stuff before the weekend.

It’s one of those wonderful old school fruit and veg shops with the delicious array of brightly coloured fruit and veg arranged to entice us to eat more of our five a day. Its simple, down to earth, independently run, locally owned, and is a great example of a Third Space;

A Third Space can be anything. It’s not home, and it’s not work, but it’s somewhere in between where people feel connected, valued, seen, and there’s a collective reason why you’re there, and a positive energy which builds community.

The difference between a coffee shop and a Third Space cafe, or a synagogue and a Third Space Synagogue, or a fruit and veg shop and the Fruit Stall is that it’s an experience. It’s a place where I am greeted with warmth and a personal touch, and there’s a shared sense of unity around the buzz of the fresh asparagus that's just come in this week, or the anticipation of the strawberries that should be arriving soon (if the weather holds).

The moment I realised that the Fruit Stall was a Third Space not just a shop was when I started asking Lizzy for recommendations for my fruit platter for Friday night dinner rather than choosing my own. In that moment my whole mindset shifted from being a customer, to being in relationship with the place and being part of it.  I now notice that the staff check with me before totting up the bill that I’m okay with the fact the grapes are quite expensive this week, or they swap out an orange because they noticed that the one I put in my basket was bruised.

Places like The Fruit Stall are rare, and precious. What was funny was that none of the staff had heard of Third Spaces before, and I enjoyed sharing the idea with them, and the others in the shop this morning. So this little piece is a tribute to you guys, to being the little sparkly magic that makes The Fruit Stall such a special place (and the quality of the fruit and veg of course!) and a public thank you to you all for being such an important part of my Friday morning ritual, helping me prepare for winding down for Shabbat. So the computer's going off and I'm going to prepare a delicious array for dinner including pineapple, orange, watermelon (first week they’re in!) and kiwi fruit platter for dessert…

Shabbat shalom

The Fruit Stall, Chapel Allerton.

I actually didn't notice Lizzy pulled this funny face as I took this photo this morning - classic and so very apt!