Are You Surviving the Summer Holidays?

We’re on the home straight. It’s the final furlong. The last week of the summer holidays. How’s it been for you?

I can’t believe I’m going to say this but 6 weeks have raced by. Although when the schools first broke up, 6 weeks did seem like a very long time.

I remember when I was at school, just a few decades ago, school holidays seemed to go on forever. When we were really young we had a couple of childminders. Let’s say we got on with one a lot better than the other. 

It was great. We’d go on day trips to lots of different places. The standard attractions like the zoo, the park and the beach. And we’d also go to organised events. Not that I can remember any of them. I just remember going to big open fields where there would be fairground type rides. Burger vans. And stuff going on. My memory is a bit rubbish. Or maybe I’ve just tried to block it out!

Then when we were a little older, summer holidays were about working in our family’s seaside restaurant. This definitely made the summer holidays go more quickly. Whilst my friends were out enjoying a break from school, I was working with my parents. I started as a ‘waitress’ and eventually made it to the chef’s assistant. The chef was my dad. I enjoyed the adrenalin rush of the lunchtime rush. Watching the orders come in knowing that customers were waiting for their food. Maybe that’s why I love cooking for lots of people.

My kiddies’ experience of life will be different, although I’d love to give them some similar life experiences. I learned so much working with mum and dad. Working in the food industry is tough. You quickly have to become thick-skinned. Plus it’s very tiring. I think it’s like marmite. You either love it or hate it.