Work Life Balance

I have become acutely aware that as I'm working hard on growing the business I've been slipping back into the doing lots of work and not having time for much else. In the last week I've been making an effort to address that balance, whilst still working very hard, and made some time for friends and family.

Midweek I've had a couple of meals out with friends and on Saturday I spent a pleasant day with my wife walking on the North Yorkshire Moors incorporating a very pleasant lunch on the way.

So my first thing is to recommend three establishments that I had very nice meals in:

• Meze Lounge in Middlesbrough for great Turkish food
• Jadoo in Saltburn for fantastic modern Indian cuisine
• The Board Inn at Lealholm for great pub meals, the lamb's heart casserole was very tasty

The result of taking time out. I've enjoyed myself, am in a better frame of mind and as a result have produced just as much work but in less time. I think there's a lesson there for me! 

That' all your getting as I have time off to do.

Improving Where You Live and Work

My office is on the seafront at Redcar, stunning views and a lovely office but Redcar has a few problems.

The High Street is slowly withering with Marks & Spencers being a very recent departure. Now that's nothing new for a northern town but some towns are faring a little better than others. For instance Middlesbrough is doing a bit better. In part this is due to the council's free parking initiative. It also has Baker Street with a set of fantastic, local independent shops, cafes and bars. There's vintage fayres in the Forbes Building also. Some great things going on to make a local town centre somewhere to visit. Middlesbrough does however have a massive student population to make a huge difference.

So what of Redcar? Local businesses have put a petition together and some stats that the parking policy of the council is damaging local business (and some visitor parking at the Hub might increase the number of residents as well). Unfortunately RCBC are not the most responsive of councils.

It's easy to moan and do nothing. BUT there is an alternative and it's massive chapeau to Fred Redcar in being proactive in making things better from beach clean ups to murals and much more. Lots of initiatives, none of them massive on their own but when combined they make a difference and get more people to get involved and take control.

So if you are a Redcar resident or business, get involved. See http://www.facebook.com/FredRedcar for more details