As the evening sky becomes dark, the kids are fast asleep, I am given a moment of peaceful reflection and serenity. Alright serenity is a bit much but I’ve got peace and quiet, a cup of tea and a few chocolate hob nobs so life seems perfect. Normally its a Polish vodka on ice or Speyside scotch, (although very partial to a Japanese also) but on this occasion a proper cup of British tea is perfect, and what kind of idiot would dunk a chocolate hob nob in scotch!.
Today has been a good day, not because I’ve made money, not because the business has grown but because I had a day with friends and family.
Its very easy to lose yourself in a lifestyle that’s so very hard. A life style setting up a business, learning money, finance, skills you didn’t know you needed till problems arise, becoming a business man and figuring out how to learn from failures. Every day I’m up early bettering myself, learning to be a better person, a calmer person and planning the day/ week ahead. No I don’t want to but I drag my ass out of bed and start. Most mornings I have sent emails, looked at financials, and got ready to go and chef, this is while getting my boys some breakfast, sorting pack ups, and spending some moments with them. Then its 8 hours work and home for cake deliveries or time with boys before getting them to bed, switching on the laptop and getting more momentum with ideas, developing new concepts or pitching events to people for catering functions. Then bath, read a few chapters of a self development book and sleep. wake. repeat!.
Its intense but today that wasn’t the plan, today the boys came and got in bed with us, I went back to sleep for an hour to wake with my eldest hugging me. The house smelt great as the mrs was cooking as she had invited friends over. After the usual discussions about favourite dinosaurs with my youngest over breakfast it was time to take my big lad to rugby. Watching him try repeatedly, always giving his all even if it didn’t always go well was humbling. That 6 year old is this 36 year olds hero.
Get back, kettle on and our friends arrive. Two couples, one with a baby and the laughter was almost instantaneous. These friends are the ones who are like family, fuck it they are family. I’m closer to these guys than any cousins, aunts or uncles. As I finished the cooking off, a beef Sunday dinner, the house is alive with beautiful people who I love all laughing and making this bald asshole very appreciative of what I have in life. No booze was flowing but the stories, banter and good vibes were. The jokes you can make without having to think or filter, the stories that some of you have heard but cant wait to tell the unknowing, the ability to laugh at ones own downfall just so your friends laugh, it had it all. The beef was bloody good to, just topside cooked rare, braised brisket, crunchy roasties, maple glazed parsnips, peas and lots of gravy available. Everyone laughing, no one on phones, the time just flew.
The Mrs had a couple of dessert options to have with coffee and as we cooed over the baby, played with the boys and laughed even more the hours flew. Better than any spa treatment, this was good for the soul.
After we said our goodbyes and we tidied the last couple of bits away it was time to go over to the in laws. This isn’t going to be one of those typical rants about the in laws, I love mine. I struck gold with the Mrs and her family are great people. As we walked through their door, we are greeted by all the family, a crazy little 2 year old fruitloop and a Jack Russell who loves an ear scratch. After a coffee and catch up of everyone’s week, trails, travels and tribulations we again sit down for food, all of us around a big table, joking, laughing, playing eye spy, again no phones. As dessert comes out this bald asshole realises again he has it made, a wonderful dynamic of people all around a table whom I care for dearly.
So here I sit, content, happy and grateful. Today was about remembering what all this is for. 400 Trillion to 1 are the odds of being here living this life. It is one to live to its fullest and as easy as it is to get caught up in life and growing a business, all it took was a meal with people I love and staying present to see the important things, the really important things. We all want to be successful and we should push ourselves to our limits but every now and then I implore you to treat yourself the time to invite over some friends or family, cook a meal, get around a table and laugh, laugh some stress away. I know its got me excited to get back to the grind tomorrow.
happy eating
FOOD ANARCHY 