So, by the age of 8 or 9, I was already making my own sweetmeats (candies) in the kitchen, experimenting with toffee, fudge, Turkish Delight and even my own chocolate Easter Eggs!

And as the years passed, so did my level of skill – by the age of 13, I had completed a Cordon Bleu home study course and was now preparing fairly complex and extravagant dishes – there was no stopping me!

But at the age of 17, I had to make a serious choice about my chosen career and how best to pursue it – not a difficult decision! With a lot of encouragement and financial support from my parents, I embarked upon a 4 year Diploma Training Course in International Hotel & Catering Management.

I just couldn’t get enough of it! I embraced the training and new experiences I was offered and loved every minute of it. I left college at 21 and went on to continue my training with an International Hotel Company.

Over the next few years, I worked in several different locations both in the UK and overseas. This was followed by a very lucky break – the chance to work on the magnificent Cunard cruise liner, QM2! I travelled the world, absorbing everything I could about luxury travel and exemplary customer service. Being an Officer, I was able to mingle and socialise with Royalty, Aristocracy & Film Stars. I worked hard, and I played hard!

Eventually, I settled back on dry land and immediately set about opening my first business. It was a quite modest affair. A small, quirky hotel and restaurant, opened on a TINY budget. But it worked – it soon became extremely successful, and in the matter of a few short years, I was moving onto bigger things……..

And so, the years have rolled on by. Several more successful businesses later, I now enjoy a rather more “sedate” lifestyle! Thankfully, 16 hour days are now a thing of the past! I have moved to the South coast of England, and set up a small but successful business in the lovely, Regency town of Brighton. I now divide my time between Consulting, Butlering and Web-Site Building – all are ofcourse, catering & hospitality focussed.

So yes, I’ve come a long way from those early, fanciful days when I would sit for hours in the kitchen watching my Mum use her magic to produce such wonderful results from so little. Would she be proud of me? Yes, I think she probably would!

As for my future……..who knows? But what I am pretty darned sure of is that it will ALLWAYS involve food & hospitality.

And the other thing I’m sure of…………I will never go hungry!!