‘I think I can, I think I can, I think I can’

Last week I wrote about ‘What if?’ This week has really been about imagining the reality and working towards those steps that will enable me to achieve that reality. But, things don’t always go to plan, like we want them to and we need to reassess and change the priorities. As mums / parents / carers we learn to adapt to the changes and change our daily routine accordingly.

I started the week contacting the local council to check what rules and regulations I need to adhere to in order to start cooking in my kitchen and selling my food products. Like all phone conversations with the council, I leave the call baffled and with more questions to ask. Luckily, an email I am asked to send, directs me to the correct person who has all the answers.

If anyone wants to set up a food business, one needs to register with the local council. Any premises where food is to be prepared and even sold (this includes delivery) needs to be inspected by the council and approved and rated according to various guidance. Ideally, as a food business you want a rating higher than 3 (it goes up to 5). Any staff preparing or handling food also should (not compulsory, but advised) to have a food safety certificate. Depending on the staff members role, Level 1, 2 or 3 is needed. And, the food.gov.uk website also has a food safety pack one can work through in their own time to learn the necessary requirements in handling food stuffs.

Sounds straightforward right? I received a food safety certificate about 15 years ago, so updating this wouldn’t be a problem. Though when I researched the training, there were so many different training providers available at varying costs from £10-£125, that I found it difficult to decide which one would be the most appropriate. I asked myself and the council, is there a training provider that is recognised more than another? Thankfully, they were able to advise, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Science are highly recognised to deliver the course. And the more expensive one!

I guess the main setback this week for me was my second conversation with the council. He sounded like he knew what he was talking about. A person wanting to set up their food business needs to advise the council 28 days prior to setting up and trading. So, in my reality,, I was geared towards working for the beginning of March to start selling some products. However, I have been advised that due to covid, there have been some delays in property checks and that it might take months before an inspector is able to check the property. It makes me wonder how on earth people (who are selling food on the local platform ‘nextdoor’) are able to sell these products within the law? I started to doubt my reality, and wondered how on earth do people make it to setting up a successful business.

I remembered a book I would read to the children, and still do occasionally. ‘The little engine that could’ by Watty Piper. If you don’t know the story, it’s about a train that is carrying goods / presents to all the ‘little boys and girls’ on the other side of the hill. The ‘happy train’ breaks down before climbing the hill, and asks 3 different trains that are passing, to help pull the train up and over the hill. The trains refuse to help, because they are either too superior, too important or too old. Finally a small blue engine appears and offers to help. It starts up the hill saying ‘I think I can, I think I can, I think I can’. And as it reaches the top and starts to roll down the other side of the hill, it says ‘I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could’.

I love this story, and the affirmations. I always quote this to the kids when they think they can’t do something. I remind them of the little blue engine, seeing how big the hill ahead is, and how heavy the cargo must be to have to carry up the hill. And the little engine is so intent on making all the ‘little boys and girls on the other side of the hill’,so happy to receive the gifts, that it tries and succeeds.

I feel a bit at a loss, like nothing is going to work and what’s the point. But, I end the week, telling myself, ‘I think I can, I think I can, I think I can’, knowing that months down the track, I’ll be saying , ‘I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could’.