Where do you escape to? This is a question I’ve been pondering these last few months. Where do you escape to when actually you can’t? When you have time on your hands but commitments that hold you. When everything familiar is faintly not so as we adhere to rules and ‘guidelines’ that keep us safe yet also contained.
Like most of us I suspect, I went into lockdown with no idea of what lay ahead and to a certain extent still don’t. I was devastated at the predicament our wonderful couples (in my Lazy Sunday catering business) found themselves in and frightened also about how we might survive as a business and what I could do to keep everyone safe and well and secure. I cried a lot. Hated the restrictions. Missed my family (beyond words). Worried about everything. Felt trapped and pretty useless if I’m really honest.
Until. I was thinking about where Mr Fitz and I could possibly escape to. It seemed everyday more challenging to know where to go, and when I really really thought about it, it became more and more apparent that I could simply ‘escape home’. To where we actually were (so fortunately); in a house with a garden and jobs to do and a loch around the corner and very nice neighbours and TIME – to think big, to make and create and to consider how we could do differently in @Lazysundaycatering so that we survived these difficult times.
Escaping home meant I grew a garden – with flowers and veg and salads and herbs. I didn’t know I liked gardening until I actually had the time to try it (usually we work so much in the summer that maintaining anything that requires dedicated attention is sure to fail, I discovered. I did try!) Now, and this excites me, most of the herbs for @lazysundaycatering will be grown by me; most of the flowers that garnish our grazing tables and fabulous food displays will be grown by me. Mr Fitz and I can eat some of our own home-grown vegetables but note to self: Plant less cabbage.
What else? Mr Fitz built me the most beautiful reclaimed studio ‘den’ – a space that continues to bring me enormous joy, makes me feel loved and creative – and inspired me to play more at making and drawing and painting. Learning and practicing has meant that I will now be able to take @lazysundaycatering in a slightly more artistic direction food wise and design wise – able to do more of the things that I have wanted to do because now I know how.
And I’ve designed some prints and some ‘must have’ foodie gifts that I hope people will continue to buy. This is important because it brings income to Lazy Sunday now. It feels good and it feels right.
Life is strange, don’t you think. My most recent ‘escape’ has been to create this space. Where I can share with you the ‘sum’ of what I do instead of just the Lazy Sunday bit. This is my escape. For now. Where is yours?
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