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Jean Michel's Diary
Well here we go again, I had my day all planned out, from morning to late
evening......breakfast with Karen, slice of toasted home made bread, poached eggs, Boursin
cheese, smoked salmon a large glass of cranberry juice...(.she keeps telling me it is good
for me) and a good cup of coffee . Then go through the Scotsman,..... Richard Bath
restaurant review, then .....Richard Bath rugby report, then.... Richard Bath grand prix
column then Richard Bath whatever..... After that it was supposed to be washing the car,
and gardening. A good friend gave me some seeds that need to be planted before it is too
late, plus with this weather the weeds are growing too fast, and I really want to keep on
top not like last summer!!! Anyway this was the plan... guess what? It is B....y raining
again so instead it is invoices, bank statements, e-mails etc.......but first my journal.
Looking back to the last few months, I am glad it is over and we can look forward to the
summer. Business has been very challenging and for the first time ever, I even considered
packing the whole thing in!
La Garrigue looked like a ghost restaurant some evenings and L ‘Artichaut was not
enjoying the cold long winter....
We were financially into big trouble, the bank was not willing to help, the tax man wanted
his money, the weather was bad, business was very slow...it all looked desperate. Then my
Dad passed away, It was not a surprise as he had been ill for a few years now, but I was
not mentally prepared for it, and being away from the family does not help in those
circumstances; there is that guilt factor of never being there when you are
needed.....Anyway I took a few days off and Karen and the boys came with me to France to
say good bye and to help my mum for a few days....
Back to Scotland things were not any better until one evening, a close family member came
in with a cheque, far too big, no questions asked, nothing ....it felt like I was
drowning, taking a few people with me then that oxygen bottle just appeared and we were
all floating again....and we are still there hanging on by our finger nails but with a new
outlook on things and the hope that we turned the corner......March was poor, April was
better, May was good. Then we were rewarded, by the Which? Good Food Guide; the Scottish
restaurant of the Year,........A television company approached us to do a programme with a
Celebrity chef .......a couple of large bookings appeared from nowhere, ... new members of
staff brought some fresh air into the business, and forced me to keep things going, new
eyes, new way of doing things, people who challenge what you are doing and help you to
focus again on your goals, you have to stop feeling to sorry for yourself, you have to
move on ....Yes I did make a few mistakes, giving some people to much , not enough to
others,.....you think you have made enough deposits in people’s emotional bank
accounts, but it is amazing how quickly people forget....somebody one day warned me that
being the Boss was a very lonely job,..... how right!
We had a few good nights, don’t get me wrong! the rugby week-ends were very
enjoyable, especially after the French Grand Slam; our calendar of events was definitely
worth doing, and we received a lot of support for our Rotary international dinner, our
Food and wine event with Catherine Roques from Clovallon, Mothers day was very busy, so it
was not all gloom and doom. Of course it is not all my fault.....there is a recession
going on at the moment and may be this has an effect on people ......and there was a
General Election as well.......and there are also a lot of very good restaurants in
Edinburgh ...so the cake is getting smaller all the time.
We had a real bad winter, weather wise so we are certainly due a really good Summer, and
we are going to get it. Plenty of sun shine, tourists,... I like that Staycation thingwee,
as long as the British people stay home and all those foreigners come here to enjoy our
country side, our beautiful cities, good food and hospitality.
Guest what? It stopped raining.....the sun is shining again.......well those invoices will
have to wait, my garden is calling...and before I go , did I mentioned you could follow me
on Twitter now, La Garrigue and its wee brother L’Artichaut are waiting...join us...
A bientot,
J-Michel
Previous diaries.April 2010
November 2009
September 2009
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