Ask a Busy Person...
Hi,
You know this is a diary of a busyish woman so when I am really busy, then there's no writing. I'm sure I'm not the only person with this conundrum - it's not that I don't want to write nor that I have nothing to say, but it's to find that window of uninterrupted 'me time'. But back to asking a busy person....
Thursday next, 14th September, 2017, will see the second Food: Fiction, Fads & Phonies seminar take place in the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Clonakilty. This, I confess, is my baby; my idea which was a spin off from a conversation with one of our speakers, Paul Treyvaud, and it happened. Right up to 48 hours before last year's seminar, I had a phone call asking me if I'd like to cancel the event as there were only about 15 attendees. I was a typical Taurean and refused to countenance an event cancellation especially as I had organised a speaker from U.K. On the day, 22 people came and enjoyed provocative presentations where the audience really became involved and to add to it, the three speakers - all chefs - actually disagreed with aspects of each other's presentations!
This year, Paul is back and will be joined by Niamh O'Connor, Cork Nutrition, and Marie Power, The Sea Gardener. I'm looking forward to meeting all three and to hearing their presentations. I know that they will challenge us.
But this event is also my idea for showcasing local hotels & restaurants as they highlight favourite local producers!
On arrival, every attendee will be given an information pack with biographies and contact details for the speakers; and a series of pages from each hotel/restaurant who is helping through sponsoring a plate. Everyone will be encouraged to read which place is highlighting which producer, but the decision-time will happen when faced with individual plates of food from these places. Every attendee can choose a plate. Last year, the conversation that ensued as plate presentation was compared and the food producer before ever a bite was taken should have been recorded.
This event is organised without any other sponsorship and costs €30 per person. There will be no additional charge for those who want to attend an industry visit in the afternoon. Again there will be a choice of either or. Would you believe, I've been asked why it isn't more expensive for what's involved! I want this to be affordable and not elitist. Last year, the people who attended wanted to learn; wanted to have
their voice heard and respected; wanted to enjoy the best of local food and wanted to meet the producers; the chefs; the people who work in Irish Food Industry.
There are just five of us on the organising committee and to date we haven't had a full meeting as everyone is busy! We communicate via email mostly and it works. Everyone undertakes to do particular tasks as they arise and just get on with it.
I'm always so conscious when I'm involved in organising anything, that it is being organised by volunteers in their own time so if something doesn't happen, there's no point in getting hung up over it; just move on and find an alternative solution. Well, that's what I do, because I am 'a busyish woman'.
Don't forget comments are always welcome.
Until next time
Avril
You know this is a diary of a busyish woman so when I am really busy, then there's no writing. I'm sure I'm not the only person with this conundrum - it's not that I don't want to write nor that I have nothing to say, but it's to find that window of uninterrupted 'me time'. But back to asking a busy person....
Thursday next, 14th September, 2017, will see the second Food: Fiction, Fads & Phonies seminar take place in the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Clonakilty. This, I confess, is my baby; my idea which was a spin off from a conversation with one of our speakers, Paul Treyvaud, and it happened. Right up to 48 hours before last year's seminar, I had a phone call asking me if I'd like to cancel the event as there were only about 15 attendees. I was a typical Taurean and refused to countenance an event cancellation especially as I had organised a speaker from U.K. On the day, 22 people came and enjoyed provocative presentations where the audience really became involved and to add to it, the three speakers - all chefs - actually disagreed with aspects of each other's presentations!
But this event is also my idea for showcasing local hotels & restaurants as they highlight favourite local producers!
On arrival, every attendee will be given an information pack with biographies and contact details for the speakers; and a series of pages from each hotel/restaurant who is helping through sponsoring a plate. Everyone will be encouraged to read which place is highlighting which producer, but the decision-time will happen when faced with individual plates of food from these places. Every attendee can choose a plate. Last year, the conversation that ensued as plate presentation was compared and the food producer before ever a bite was taken should have been recorded.
This event is organised without any other sponsorship and costs €30 per person. There will be no additional charge for those who want to attend an industry visit in the afternoon. Again there will be a choice of either or. Would you believe, I've been asked why it isn't more expensive for what's involved! I want this to be affordable and not elitist. Last year, the people who attended wanted to learn; wanted to have
their voice heard and respected; wanted to enjoy the best of local food and wanted to meet the producers; the chefs; the people who work in Irish Food Industry.
There are just five of us on the organising committee and to date we haven't had a full meeting as everyone is busy! We communicate via email mostly and it works. Everyone undertakes to do particular tasks as they arise and just get on with it.
I'm always so conscious when I'm involved in organising anything, that it is being organised by volunteers in their own time so if something doesn't happen, there's no point in getting hung up over it; just move on and find an alternative solution. Well, that's what I do, because I am 'a busyish woman'.
Don't forget comments are always welcome.
Until next time
Avril
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