Our son Siddharth came home on Saturday with girlfriend Megan. It was a belated Mother’s Day visit. Sunday also happened to be St Patrick’s day. This morning Sid decided we’re all going out for breakfast, for a Mother’s Day treat. We drove to our local Josie’s in Chandler’s Ford. The place was heaving and people were queuing up like young club goers on a Friday night. We were told there’s approximately an hour’s wait for a table. The next one was in Romsey which was also full. Sid then decided we should go to the one in Alresford, a twenty minutes drive away. By the time we reached, it was nearly noon time and travelling empty stomach in the backseat of a car driven by an impatient 24 year old, both my wife and I were beginning to feel a bit queasy. But at last we reached, parked up and walked in to Josie’s.

“We are not yet officially open,” the host told us, “today is a soft launch for friends and family.” The phrase soft launch was new to me. But I wanted some food and the enhancement of my vocabulary did not stop my head from spinning. With envy, I eyed the friends and family tucking into stacks of pancakes with strawberries, eggs benedict and fresh orange juice. I couldn’t bear it and so moved back towards the road looking for another place to eat, expecting the rest of the family to follow. But they were still in deep discussion with the host. I went back in just as the host was leading them to a table. Apparently Sid had told him how he had come down from Bristol to see us – his parents, how today’s breakfast was a Mother’s Day treat and how we had driven twenty minutes to get here and so on. I don’t know where he got his tact and powers of persuasion from. Not from me! I take No for an answer much too readily.

To just say the breakfast was delicious would be to undermine the other qualities that make a meal enjoyable. The atmosphere, the service and the general bonhomie were beyond excellent. We were repeatedly offered more hot drinks and made to feel at home. Just as we were congratulating each other on our lucky day to have gained access to an exclusive event, a lady came to our table and introduced herself.

“Good morning, I am Josie,” she said.

I wasn’t sure I had heard her right. A silent question raged through my mind. You mean you are THE Josie? The four of us looked at one another and instantly recognised that we were all asking the same silent question. The lady, dressed in green in honour of St Patrick’s day, certainly didn’t act the boss. She was jovial, friendly and one with her staff, serving food and chatting to customers.

What she said next to us not only confirmed her proprietorship but also made our day.

“Everything is on the house today. Please ask if you need anything.” Thank you Josie, for your generosity. You just got yourself four loyal customers. Thank you Siddharth, your Mother’s Day gift was very much appreciated by your mother (and father), thank you Sujata for being the primary reason for our adventure, thank you Megan for the affection you bestow on our son. And thank you St Patrick for blessing us with so much joy on your special day.