3 April  Wynnstay Arms Baggage Transfer  A Cup o’ at Tracey’s Café and Mad4Movies

I am down to breakfast (no improvement) at P.I.(Premier Inn), and packed at 8 AM.  When I have all my bags, etc., I drop the key in the slot and leave P.I.  I am happy and full of positive vibes as I think about going to Minera, and about going through records at St. Mary’s—I may find Charles B.’s mother, siblings, or relatives.  I skirt around downtown as much as possible with my rolling suitcase, staying on Regent to Lord to Henblas, Bank to Chester and ending on High Street at Wynnstay Arms.  I try to open the front door, but it’s locked. Apparently there is another entrance for the Hotel—around the back. 

A kind waitress lets me in and helps me get to the Hotel lobby.  I head through the connecting door into the lobby.  There is another woman at the desk and I say I will be checking this afternoon and I was told I could leave my luggage somewhere out of the way.  She says it is fine and to put it in the Yorke—a conference room on the first level.  The room is dark but I put the bags under a table.  The woman says it will be safe and it is not being used today.  I thank her and tell I am not sure when I will be back.  She is okay with that.

I exit the hotel entrance—in the back off a parking lot. I notice that there is a walkway, south past the parking lot.  Above me is the sky bridge to the Eagles Meadow Mall. I pass under the extension to the hotel and see a stair-stepped, knee high brick wall that’s easy to step over. The steps are dirty, covered in litter and what appear to be ‘crumbled-up’ crisps—maybe spewed?  I walk up to Yorke Street—the Ragazzi shop is on my left and The Fat Boar is just beyond it.  The Boar would be an excellent place to eat tonight. 

It’s almost 9:30 and I realize as I walk up to High Street that I could use a coffee and scone (scahn).  This would be a great time to go to Tracey’s Café and relax until the bus pulls out at 10:10.  I head up to the Long Pull—across from Kristina’s and turn onto Bank Street. Tracey’s is in the back end of the Butcher’s Market where Bank and Henblas meet.  In a bygone time I bet they brought the carcasses in through here.

Tracey’s is an unassuming little café. The walls are windowed and there might be five tables inside. Four small tables are outside under an awning.  Above is more vaulted Victorian glass skylight. Across the Butcher Market rear entrance is yet another small dining area (full) with an automatic sliding glass door.  The man who is working there is running back and forth, obviously working very hard.  When I walk in he is behind a counter.  The space is full and I contemplate just leaving, but the guy (probably late forties) says I can sit in a table outside and he would come and take my order. There is a full-figured woman with dark bangs doing the cooking.  I thank him and notice that there is a group of men gathered around two tables, talking and enjoying themselves.

 I sit at a table by the windows and the man is out quickly.  He likes to talk and I do too.  He has a large tattoo on his left forearm “Tracey”.  He takes my order, coffee and a scone with butter.  It begins to gets busy—a two top inside opens but is quickly filled by a father and son.  The guy brings my coffee and scone.  He asks if I have seen “Welcome to Wrexham”.  I take a pause and confess that, yes, I have seen most of the first season.  He begins to bubble with enthusiasm and tells me all about how Tracey’s Café is featured in the series.  He says that the film crew came back and started shooting the second season a few weeks ago. 

I am pleased that the company/owners are carrying through.  He tells me that they talked to them and Rob Clarke, again.  I ask who Rob is and he says Mad4Video, around the corner.  You should talk to him, too. I remember actually seeing Rob on the show.  I tell him that I got to see the match on Saturday (free ticket) and I tell him how great it was.  He is genuinely happy for the team’s success and that Ryan and Rob have made good on their promise.  He goes in and I see a thirty-something year old man inside putting on an apron.  I see at once it is the guy’s son.  The woman must be his mother.  I finish and go in to pay. 

The guy is washing dishes in a small sink.  He dries his hands and helps me.  Seeing the tattoo again I’m a little confused and asked if he is Tracey.  A hear a collective chortle from behind—the ‘off work’ guys. He says no I’m not Tracey, she is, pointing to his wife. Oops-sorry. One of the guys says ribbing-ly, 'you sure look like a Tracey'.  I am embarrassed by my mistake, apologize and he says it’s alright.  He says his name is Dave Rogers. I shake hands with him and say I am Dave Jones.  His is glad I came in and to enjoy Wrexham, oh and go talk with Rob.  I thank him and saying goodbye to Dave and Tracey, I leave. 

I walk into the Butcher’s Market and quickly find Mad4Video.  Rob has a customer, but he is gone quickly. I introduce myself and tell him Dave said I should talk to you.  We have a short talk about ‘Welcome” and I tell him I am going to Minera to check out my family history.  He is positive about the possibilities of finding out about my ancestor.  He also lets me know the “Welcome” crew has been back to interview him. I tell him it’s good they came back and talked to you again.  I leave the Market liking Wrexham more and more.