It’s been 2 months – and I’m again. A lot has occurred!
Two months in the past, I confessed I used to be burnt out and wanted to take a break from publishing new recipes so I had time to recalibrate and discover a higher work-life steadiness.
I like what I do and by no means need to cease. So I needed to make adjustments to keep away from burning out once more.
Although I didn’t get a lot day without work, stepping away from creating and filming recipes freed up time so I may implement some optimistic adjustments. Issues have been busy however manageable, I’ve cleared my to-do record and regained my spark. Right here’s what’s occurred!
Higher Properties & Gardens TV present
SO EXCITING!!! We had Johanna Griggs from the beloved TV present Higher Properties & Gardens spend a day with us to movie “a day within the lifetime of”. We began on the development web site that’s my home-to be:
We then moved onto RecipeTin Meals (“RTM”, our foodbank) the place we confirmed Joh our kitchen and she or he acquired to see first hand the group making and packing tons of of meals!
We even acquired Joh to assist with the packing. I assumed she was a bit stingy with the garnishes. JB thought she was a bit sluggish. Perhaps they’ll pace her up within the edits. 😂
And the ultimate cease was my mom’s home, the place we wrapped gyoza collectively then sat all the way down to take pleasure in a Japanese feast:
It was an enormous and lengthy day, with numerous transferring elements, effectively over 40 individuals concerned within the day, from the tradies on the development web site, to my group at RTM, RTE workers working behind the scenes, in addition to in fact the great BHG crew.
However SO MUCH FUN! All of us suppose Joh Griggs ought to run for PM. Sensible as a whip. Everyone loves her.🥰
Talking of my dwelling
It began out as somewhat kitchen renovation.
It’s developed right into a head-to-toe heritage home restoration. 😩 Each stone upturned revealed one other set of issues, from termite injury requiring the whole removing of all of the flooring and joists all through the entire home, to putting in a whole new stormwater system all through the entire property to switch the non-existent one, and rewiring the entire home.
Proper at this second, I’m in a little bit of denial, simply coping with one downside at a time, placing on a poised calm facade (OK, that’s a blatant lie, there have been dismal wails aplenty). And feeling fortunate that I’ve a group I can belief so we will work by way of these challenges collectively, and that now we have an awesome line of communication with the native council.
I additionally know that it was not a smart choice, selecting a run down heritage home as my new dwelling. Fact is, I fell in love with the concept of a house full of character and I used to be determined to maneuver out of the workplace (after 9 years of it, I used to be completed!). So I didn’t do sufficient analysis. I used to be ready to do a good quantity of works to repair it. I didn’t count on each inch of the home – each blade of grass, each slate tile on the roof, each gutter – to want full restore or alternative.😭
Onwards. No extra complaining! I introduced this on myself.
My motley crew – Staff RecipeTin
Thrilling information on the group entrance!
Chef JB is again at HQ!
JB, our RecipeTin group head chef, was seconded to RecipeTin Meals for the previous 12 months to assist optimize the brand new kitchen, increasing meal manufacturing from 500 to 600 every day, and tripling the meal selection we provide.
Although typically pulled into particular RTE initiatives, he’s now again full-time! His return lightens my workload and brings top-tier “chef normal” to every little thing – from fast meals to more difficult dishes that retains issues attention-grabbing round right here (Singapore Chilli Crab, anybody? 😊).
It additionally opens up the alternatives for us to do enjoyable issues like pop ups and stay cooking exhibits. So glad he’s again – and excited for the 12 months forward!
New kitchen hand at RTM!
And in associated thrilling information, now we have a brand new member at group RTM – meet Harry!
Harry simply began with us yesterday, changing JB at RTM. I’m not positive that Harry anticipated his first day in his new job to finish with an enormous photograph of his face on my web site!
He was additionally relatively stunned that we welcomed him with cake and a balloon on his first day. Apparently that doesn’t occur in regular kitchen jobs. 😂
MEET DENELLE, MY NEW ASSISTANT!
Yaaaay!! I’ve a proper hand girl!
The seek for Denelle was actually an expertise. Anticipating solely maybe 100 candidates as a consequence of location limits, I deliberate to do the recruiting myself – till over 2,000 purposes flooded in. Everyone desires to work with Dozer! 🦮
Overwhelmed, I rapidly realised I’m not constructed for recruitment (I might’ve employed 48 out of the primary 50 who utilized 😅).
Enter Est 10, a specialist recruitment agency that made the method seamless with their unbelievable effectivity, professionalism, and private contact. Their experience turned a frightening job right into a pleasure, and I met some actually distinctive candidates alongside the way in which. Which brings me to my subsequent level:
A giant thanks to everybody who utilized!
To everybody who took the time to use, thanks so very a lot. The response was actually overwhelming, and I used to be blown away by the unbelievable expertise, ardour, and enthusiasm that was obvious in so many purposes.
I understand how a lot effort goes into placing your self ahead for a job, and I need you to know that each utility was reviewed by a recruitment specialist and never a machine. If I may have employed extra of you, I completely would have!
Wishing you all one of the best in your careers, and who is aware of – our paths could cross once more sooner or later!
RecipeTin Meals Information
There’s at all times happenings at RTM!
torrential rain injury
We had a ceiling collapse and water pouring into the kitchen about 6 weeks in the past throughout sudden torrential rains. It occurred in the course of the day when the group was proper in the course of the prepare dinner.
Due to the short considering of the group, we misplaced little or no inventory to water injury. That is Stephen, the pinnacle chef at RTM, saturated from head to toe after diving underneath the waterfall to avoid wasting what he may:
Amazingly, we solely had at some point we couldn’t prepare dinner. And we nonetheless managed to offer 600 meals on that day as we maintain a stash of frozen meals for such emergencies.
We elevated our meals to 600!
And on the subject of the meals we make – we elevated our meals to 600 per day, up from 500! This equates to 156,000 meals per 12 months – that’s numerous hungry tummies stuffed!
We’ve progressively elevated meals since transferring into our present kitchen, from 400 day by day once we first moved to 600. Partially as a consequence of new tools which permits us to prepare dinner at scale extra effectively, and partially as a consequence of continued enchancment in workflow.
I’m so pleased with my group, these working at RTM who make the meals occur day by day, and people engaged on the RTE facet of the enterprise that makes RTM attainable (as a result of the revenue we earn on the RTE facet is what funds RTM).
We haven’t hit the ceiling but. There’s extra to return, extra meals help we will provide!
My guide launched within the Netherlands!
The primary non-English version of my guide, Vanavond (Dutch for this night), launched within the Netherlands final week – so thrilling! Any Dutch readers round? Get it right here!
However I had somewhat mix-up when asserting it – “I’m within the Netherlands!” I posted on Fb, solely to have individuals eagerly ask the place I’d be signing books. 😂 Needed to rapidly make clear – it’s my guide that’s there, not me!
Launch of “Incomes Energy”
I used to be honoured to be featured as a case examine in Incomes Energy by Roxanne Calder, founding father of Est 10 recruitment. The guide explores closing the gender pay hole and is a beneficial useful resource about maximising earnings potential. The discussions lined my company profession in addition to the journey of constructing RecipeTin.
I used to be so completely satisfied to see Incomes Energy so effectively obtained at launch and admire Roxanne’s dedication to empowering girls – with out diminishing males. Actually, my mentors within the company world and the enterprise individuals I admired essentially the most had been all males.
PS: I couldn’t match a single cupcake in that itty-bitty bag. Therefore my love for big baggage!
You’re caught up!
And that. my buddies, (principally) catches you up on the happenings of the final 2 months.
For me, the 2 greatest issues that can change the way in which ahead is having an assistant once more – simply having an additional pair of arms round has been an prompt assist – and JB coming again to HQ. I’ve caught up on sleep, life admin, I’ve been capable of spend extra time at RTM (which I actually take pleasure in doing, I similar to being there), and simply usually getting a greater work-life steadiness.
I’m even going to attempt to drop all the way down to 4 days every week for the subsequent short time (I do know, gasp, shock, horror!!).
That may be somewhat formidable, however one should have objectives!
Importantly although, I’m recharged, again to my chirpy self, and impressed to get again within the kitchen once more. Right here’s to an awesome the rest of 2025 full of scrumptious new recipes! – Nagi x
Lifetime of Dozer
A handful of pictures and nothing new. Nonetheless thinks each steak has his identify on it:
At all times my shadow within the kitchen:
Substantial pool time (although his days of leaping into the pool are over, today he simply tends to spa):
No such factor as a peaceable brunch when he’s round:
Resigning himself to the most recent dog-wear:
And simply trying cute:
Love this fur ball so, a lot. ❤️
