One Man Went To Demo

Who said that men can’t multitask?

Whoever came out with that scathing observation has evidently never been to a cookery demo before – or, to be specific, one of my demos. If you haven’t attended one, and are also of the opinion that men are pretty inept around the kitchen, it involves me cooking a lengthy and varied menu whilst explaining the manifold benefits of an Aga or Rayburn. These are premium, world-renowned products, so I have to be professional – but I also have to be entertaining. I would describe what I do as being pitched somewhere between an informative lecture and a jolly good night out. The crowd will comprise all different kinds of clientele: some are recent buyers looking for tips on how to get the best out of it, some have always had one in their family kitchen, and some are thinking about installing one in their home. They get to enjoy a glass or three of wine, a meal afterwards, and the pleasure of my company for two hours.

A Week in the life of an Aga demonstrator

Here’s hoping you will never be unfortunate enough to find yourself in a supermarket at yawn o’clock…  Imagine me, wandering like a lost waif around the store at the wrong side of dawn. I’m neither bright-eyed nor bushy-tailed, the lights suspended overhead are blinding, and the whole place smells of fruit and cleaning product. Not [...]

Novocaine And Turkeys

I’m in pain, folks. Serious pain. Physical, emotional, mental… you name it, I’m feeling it.
Boo hoo, you might say. Stop your whinging, James. Dry your eyes. Everyone’s life is tough at times, so suck it up.
But seriously. Hold your horses. Listen. Let me ask you: how many of you spend your days with the frozen body of a dead turkey?
Yes, you heard me. A dead turkey. At the moment I seem to spend more time in the company of frozen poultry than with living, breathing humans.

Inertia.

Forgive me if I am beginning to sound like a stuck record, but my life just seems to get busier and busier. I don’t say this in a vain attempt to sound popular and successful – it’s just a statement of fact. One of the knock-on effects of our stormy financial climate, which my politicians tell me is a temporary problem (cough cough) is that people who run their own businesses have to work even longer shifts to keep the company afloat. Now as far as multi-million conglomerates go the good ship Whisk might be more of a dinghy than a galleon, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that if it sinks I will be a very unhappy captain. I’ve poured far too much energy, time and dough (in both senses of the word) into my business to let it go under. And if that means forgoing everyday things like eating and sleeping, well… that’s the way the cookie crumbles.