010 AUSTIN CAFFREY Show Notes

AUSTIN CAFFREY was a regular at Travelling Through. He ran the very popular Waterloo Philosophy Café which attracted young and old from all over London many of whom were new to London and came from all parts of the world. Austin was born in Ireland but grew up in London. He played keyboard in a punk band and enjoyed the London music scene of the 70s. He qualified within the Institute of Financial Services. He lived and worked in Jersey, Bermuda and Hong Kong. Returning to London relatively recently, he re-trained and currently advises companies on Organisational Psychology. When Austin's family moved to the UK from Ireland in the mid 1960's prejudice against the "Irish and Blacks" was still being visibly expressed in various parts of the country with signage in some establishments requesting them not to enter nor to apply for jobs there.

THIS IS AUSTIN'S UNIQUE STORY ABOUT LONDON, THE WORLD AND LIFE.

“Get stuck in.

I run a philosophy café,

And the great thing about that is a lot of the people are international,

And they are there to have more than just a trivial conversation.

So I would recommend you get out there and join things,

Do adult education classes so that you get to know people,

London can be a lonely city,

And Londoners (it’s probably fair to say) are not the most open and friendly of people,

If you smile at someone up North they with smile back,

But down here they are wondering what you want,

(That’s a bit of an exaggeration – he says with a smile)

But it’s true to say, it can be a place where people can feel very lonely,

So getting out to meet other people is important.”

 

AUSTIN’S LONDON MUSINGS…

Austin runs the London Meet Up Group: Waterloo Philosophy Café formerly held at the Travelling Through… bookshop-café in Lower Marsh, London SE1.

He loves the theatre scene: The Old Vic, Young Vic, Southwark Playhouse, Waterloo East Theatre

He says the tertiary educational scene can be expensive but has lots to offer in London including the more reasonably priced adult education courses at Morley College.

When eating out he likes The Baltic. There’s also many Thai food restaurants, fusion food, and street food he loves to try.

Austin is puzzled by Bank tube station, enjoys walking along the Southbank, the Thames Pathway, the river walk from Waterloo to Battersea Park, walking through St James’s Park, and walking along the riverbank when the tide is out from the Royal Festival Hall to the Globe Theatre.

He enjoys street food at Borough Market, and eating in his local gastro pubs.

He likes to take friends on his non-tourist tour to places like The Royal Courts of Justice, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, St Bernard’s Church off Fleet Street.

He loves to hike in the Chilterns which is in easy reach of London.

London is his favourite city to live.

 

AUSTIN’S IRISH MUSINGS…

His family still consider Dublin as their “home”.

When visiting Ireland he would recommend the Gresham Hotel in Dublin, walking along the River Liffey, going to live music, and visiting the museums.

He suggests heading southwest out of Dublin to the countryside to places like Galway, visiting the The Burren limestone paving, staying in Doolin a real backpackers haunt and in passing why not listen to Doolin’ Dalton by the Eagles - totally unrelated!

 

AUSTIN’S OTHER MUSINGS…

Austin spent time living and working in Jersey, The Channel Islands; Bermuda; and Hong Kong.

While in Hong Kong he loved hiking in the Northern Territories; and took time to visit Taiwan; Australia; New Zealand; and China.

He wouldn’t mind having a stint living in somewhere like San Francisco or New York.

He enjoys travelling to Paris and other European cities by Eurostar.

  

AUSTIN'S  CONTACT DETAILS...

Austin runs The Waterloo Philosophy Café Meet Up, details can be found here: https://www.meetup.com/Waterloo-Philosophy-Cafe/

Austin has worked for the Feel Good Company as an Organisational Psychologist since 2013. You can check them out here: https://www.feelgoodco.com/team

Austin can be found on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/austin-caffrey-8362366

  

ABOUT THE PODCAST...

Information on Travelling Through… with Emma can be found at: https://www.travellingthrough.co.uk/

The Travelling Through Jingle was written and produced by Mariska Martina https://www.mariskamartina.com/

Show notes 010 AUSTIN CAFFREY Show Notes can be found at this link https://travellingthrough.podbean.com

Thanks to Austin Caffrey and Catherine Huckle for hosting this podcast recording on 06.02.2020