Julz

On a windy summer’s evening, we managed to eventually stop laughing and got through some very disjointed interview questions with the ever wonderful Julia.

I should say there is no format. If you can see a theme in the questions...you should worry.

Hmm okay

But the first quest remains the same. Can you juggle?

As with many things, I try with much enthusiasm but fail spectacularly. I like to think I can but I cannot. I actually even own juggling ball sacks.

You own juggling ball sacks?

Yeah pretty much.

Aspirational purchase?

I actually have this thread, I get great enthusiasm for starting projects and then don't always complete them. Like I started growing stuff in the garden this year then they died. I restarted and they're doing well now but inevitably I'll forget to water them and they'll die again.

What's the longest project you've done?

What's a long project I don't know?

What about project UK? How long has it been?

That's true. It's coming up on 18 years living in the UK. Also project life, been breathing consecutively for quite a while.

18 years is wild.

It's coming up to the point where I've been here longer than I haven't. I think life only really starts aged 18 or 19 so I've been here most of my life.

Favourite place in the UK?

I'm very London-centric. I lived in South West for a time because I was really into rowing. So I built a friendship Then Brixton. Went back to Canada for a year and when I came back, I moved to East London. Turns out east is the best. I think that North East quadrant is all you need.

Sacred ground. When you rowed, which position were you?

I was coxing.

I didn't want to assume.

In the UK there's rowing culture but in Canada there isn't really. We were confused as to why the boat went backwards. A rowing club opened in my penultimate year of high school and a bunch of my friends joined so I did too. We ended up 4th at nationals, which was crazy for a bunch of people who'd never rowed before. In my last year of high school, it's all we did. Even now, they're still people I adore.

If you weren't roasting coffee, what job would you do?

Great question. I'd either become a hiking guide somewhere with mountains. So I couldn't be in London

You could be a Hackney hiking guide.

That's lame. No-one should do that. I would probably open a coffee shop if i wasn't roasting coffee.

Is that what you'd wanted to do since you were little?

For the longest time yeah! Although it may be something I do when I'm older like 50 or 60. I'd love to open a coffee shop in a community that needed it. London has so many. The towns in the middle of nowhere need them more.

So Woolwich?

Have you seen the Uber boat?! You could commute on that and it'd be sick!

Who is your favourite sibling?

My [only] sister is my most favourite and least favourite.

Who would you say is your parent's favourite child?

My sister had kids so grandchildren elevated her. Grandparents can't resist. But I think they've realised for holidays that it's quite nice having me out here. So maybe purely for holiday purposes, I may have just pipped her. I've played the long game.

Competitive family?

Nope, if you imagine 75 year old lovely Canadians...that's my parents. I had a really wholesome upbringing. I'm very content.

Biggest difference between Vancouver and London?

Easy. Proximity to oceans and mountains. Also, London Coffee scene is amazing. There are so many oeoe who care about it, are so experienced and are generous with their knowledge!

Where are you most likely to have a spiritual experience? Inside the Vatican or Glastonbury?

You don't need a verbal answer, YES GLASTONBURY is my answer!

Which stage?

Some random little stage. Not a main stage for sure. Either a super tiny tent or southeast corner.

How do you not get lost?

You do but you're never lost. Nobody's ever truly lost at Glastonbury.

What's your favourite fermentation process?

Honey. It gives the producer a bit of freedom in terms of weather or drying conditions.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the collection of people I've surrounded myself with. Because I feel like I've managed to find very wonderful people and this group makes me feel very lucky.

What must that say about you?

I'm a collector?

Very wonderful people are drawn to you.