That Friday Feeling

As most people are counting the hours til they clock off work and start their weekend early - bakery life ramps up.

Andrew had a grand total of 2 hours sleep last night as he prepares for our busiest day of the week. I decided to not work in London today, a luxury of being self employed, but stay at home. Mixed reasons - I wasn't feeling 100% anyway yesterday and am glad of the decision as Andrew could do with some help.

By 6am he had made 2 batches of breads with more proving. Lots and lots of the ever so popular brownies, shortbread and enough cookie dough to feed a small army.

8am the usual chaos begins for school runs, added to the additional requirement to take oldest child to hospital appointment first thing and have 3 orders ready for collection at 7am, 8.30am and 9am. This is where we really miss not having family closer - to be able to just call on grandparents for a quick school run or even just help with house stuff would be a blessing but one, like many around us, isn't a luxury we have.

Andrew drops me and oldest son at said appointment and rushes back home to get another batch in the oven - nothing more frustrating for a baker than realising you have over proved your dough - then comes back for us a couple of hours later, dough saved, more bread baked and ready for deliveries.

This is where it's great to have a family business. Bread baskets filled I get in the car and start driving round in the sunshine, the smell of warm bread wafting around at the car - so hard not to have a nibble!! People greet me with enthusiasm and expectation at what is going to be in the basket today and at one drop I virtually get mobbed before I get out the car!

Back home - time to tidy. Washing up, cleaning down the bakery and generally try to get on top of things before it's time to start school runs again. Need to persuade Andrew to get some sleep before we repeat the whole process again tonight/tomorrow morning.

Might squeeze in a quick ride on the GG or even a trip up to the allotment. Friday feels good...