If you won the lottery....

What would you do?  If you could work wherever you wanted, do whatever you wanted and money was not a factor, what would you choose?

After the world holidays, after you paid off everyone's debts, made your donations to charity.  What's left for you and your inner desires?

I'd like to own a cafe of sorts.  A place for people like me.  Women who love to read, catch up with friends and drink coffee.  A Borders, but warmer, more personal. 

I'd buy a big place in Paddington or New Farm (here in Brisbane), and set up my dream business.  Rather than sell books (though that would be an option), it's be a place where people could borrow or exchange them.   

Something charming like this. 

I'd keep some of the bedrooms and turn them into private 'dining' rooms.  Great for baby showers or private morning teas. 

I'd serve coffee in big, comfortable mugs and tea in delicate china cups, the kind your grandmother used to use. 

I'm completely besotted with Greengate tableware, so there would be heaps of that.

We'd bake on site, perhaps even have "Mummy and Me" (God that sounds cheesy) baking sessions some mornings in my big, airy kitchen.

You could catch up with your girfriends or browse for a new book, the aroma of coffee and chocolate brownies enticing you to stay and play.

A place where you could bring your toddlers, your books, even your knitting. Large sofas and lounge chairs in the front of the shop - twinkling lights on the windows.  A quieter room in the back where we could spoil mothers with brand new babies and a bright cheerful area for the ones with toddlers.

Little booths and old wooden tables instead of uniform cafe sets. 

 Cosy reading nooks throughout the house, for those who prefer solitude as they read.  A large, central table to gather around, or to spread your books out.

Take your time exploring the old house, finding the next book you'll take home and fall in love with.

More tables and chairs set up on the wrap around verandah.  You could drink your coffee or read your book out on the deck, washed in sunshine and peace.  And we'd sell drinks like these, if for no other reason than that I think they're pretty.

Take your coffee and sit on the old porch swing, looking out over our community garden.

I love the idea that you can bring your daughters (or sons, of course), grand-daughters or nieces for a picnic or a tea party here.  Fresh flowers everywhere adding that final, personal touch.

Of course, a big draw would be the Friday Night Book Club, where we would bring a bottle of wine and discuss and debate into the wee hours if we wanted.

 

And a spot, tucked away in a cosy corner, just for me. With all the time in the world to people watch, sip my coffee and finally write something good.

Sigh. It's a pretty dream, that's for sure.  It'd be a financial disaster - probably never paying for itself, let alone turning a profit.  But hey, I just won millions, what do I care?

So.  Would you come to my cafe?  And what do you think I should call it?

I'm tagging everyone.  Tell me what you'd do with your millions?