Good morning,
When
we arrived home last night we sought your program on i-view because it
addresses what we do for a living and, there are two sides to every coin.
Firstly,
we are not seeking publicity as our little restaurant is busy most of the
time. But, what we are seeking is to
deliver another side to the proffered restaurant turmoil replacing the Dickensian
workhouse image of steam, fire and sweat eating poor unsuspecting and desperate
cooks trying to produce God like food whilst an uncaring overlord is beating
them to a pulp with a blunt spoon [with apologies to Alan Rickman as the
sheriff in ‘Robin Hood’].
Why
bother? Because, whilst there are sweat
shops out there controlled by meglamanic [my word - sorry] uneducated and
personally uncomfortable dropkicks, there is actually no need. But, as long as the sensationalist macho 100
hour sweat box is accepted as the norm, our industry will fail to attract
professionals. Professionals who want to
have fun in a constantly challenging environment.
And,
it is fun!
Only
last week we had a few anniversaries. I
turned 71 as the only overworked cook/dishwasher, our current 16 seat restaurant
also turned 16, my other half [Ulla, the lone swan around waitress] and I
celebrated 20 years of 24/7 and we popped another cork in honour of our first
wedding anniversary. Add on activities
pursued together such as golf [very very average], archery [better], travel
[lots] and people [all sorts] and life is a treat. Indeed, we eat out a lot [we have to, to keep
abreast of trends] and enjoy, everything.
We
work around 30 hours a week!
The
work is challenging and at times physical [I don’t look a day over 71] but that
IS the challenge and one to embrace as the opportunity. Bending, turning, lifting, thinking,
planning, fixing, washing, and even cooking.
On top of that we get to run a business whilst still having time to
pontificate [nothappyjon.blogspot.com] at length about personally felt
issues. For example, I spent years downsizing
companies globally after they had lost their vision yet I don’t see either of
our current hopefuls expound any sort of ‘strategic’ vision for our country. They deal with minutia because they believe
it wins votes whilst as a country we flounder in a sea of conflicting
uncertainty. Where are the vision
building strategies? Indeed, where are the strategists?
Anyway,
that’s irrelevant to this short note.
Too
much fun, but we have now decided to sell our business and allow someone else
to realise the opportunities therein.
No, we are not retiring [tried that 16 years ago and it didn’t work] but
seek a new challenge wherein we can get excited once again. Dad was still working as a consulting
engineer and was studying anthropology as he turned 93 [right up to when he
shuffled off this mortal coil] and I really hope to be able to continue ‘life’
as he did. Indeed, I see a cranky
centenarian post stroke still trying to change the world whilst perhaps
studying law.
Restaurants
tick all the boxes and yes, we own the bar.
Best
regards,
Jon & Ulla Langevad [I could list multiple degrees but at 71 who cares]
0437
23 1948 / 9417 3220
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