Coffee
Black and sweet.
Cake
A blueberry pie.
Kinks: Interests, Quirks or Peculiarities
I'm pretty kinky. Switchy, bisexual and always willing to try new things. CCK has made me less ashamed of who I am and I am much more open about my kink side then ever before.
What attracted you to Coffee, Cake & Kink? (Why CCK?)
I had just moved to London, it was the first time that I was truly on my own. I knew immediately that I wanted to get involved in not only the LGBT but the Kink scene as well. A friend showed me to CCK and it was love at first sight.
3 years on, how do you remember your time at Coffee, Cake & Kink?
Very fondly. There were downsides (as to any job) but I always remember both the ups and downs as fond memories. I met a very good friend, Jay, while working there who turned out to be one of my closest friends in the UK who never judged me.
Is there anything that still makes you laugh / cringe?
The time me and Alana bonded over fish and chips after a very long night makes me smile. Those damn stairs still make me cringe to this day.
Why did you leave CCK?
I had to retake a class (it was with a teacher that particularly terrified me at the time) so I decided that I should step back and focus on what I came here for (university). However, I would often pop in to fill in an odd shift and to do small projects
Is there anything in particular you remember about that final period?
Tripping up those damn stairs, feeling bad every time I broke a cup and dodging Jay who always liked to give my bottom a squeeze.
What did you do / where did you go after CCK?
I didn't have another job in the UK until I came back to America where I worked at Toys 'R' Us. I liked that job though it did not compare.
How did it compare with CCK?
It didn't. You can't say just anything in front of children!
What skills or experience that you gained with us turned out to be most beneficial post-CCK?
I was able to start exploring the world of kink and was able to go from a small town girl, to someone with a much wider view of the world. It was also nice to see how much people would do when they believed in something.
Where are you / what do you do now?
Currently I am stuck in the wilds of Pennsylvania. However, I am leaving the area in January to move in with friends near a big city. Moving back to the States was crushing and a very depressing time for me. I still hope to one day return to the UK.
What do you put on your CV when presenting your time at Coffee, Cake & Kink to prospective new employers?
It depends. Most jobs I list myself as working at CCK as a social media assistant/server. If it is an LGBT/kink/alternative employer, I list it at Coffee, Cake & Kink and explain that part of my job was creating a welcoming environment for the community
Have you ever found yourself needing to explain it in more details? If so, how did you go about it? What was the result?
I did. I applied to a local Starbucks and it came up. I didn't get the job but the guy didn't seem offended. I've also had to explain it to friends who were very curious and upset that we didn't have a place like that in America.
Overall, have you found "Kink" on your CV to be more advantageous (quirky, attention-grabbing etc.) or disadvantageous (prejudice)?
I tend to leave it off of there as America is pretty conservative and it can be seen as a disadvantage. However, I would proudly put it on there if I could find the perfect job that would see it as an advantage (as I do in my personal life).
Have you stayed in touch with anyone from your CCK years?
Yes. Sonia & Alana. I'm also still very close to Jay, who is a bit harder to get in touch with, and often will email him to make sure he is okay. I met one of my roommates through CCK as well and we still stay in touch. I'm sure I am forgotting someone.
Anything else that you would like to say?
I am grateful for CCK organising for me a film-making internship with Stuart Urban, an excellent experience which I hope to bring to a future office or media job. It was the first time in my life that I worked in a field that I was passionate about.