Fly, Fly Away My Little Birds So here we are again, approaching the end of the summer and a large group of my staff are about to leave for university, gap years or even, shock horror, to get a real job. This year I am saying goodbye to Rachel, my longest serving (both literally and erm, literally) member of staff, Jenna, Chefette Becca and fairy Clare who are all bound for their first year of university, Ros who departs for the 14eme as part of her modern languages studies, plus my old friend and verbal sparring partner Clare F has finally found a job and is off to teach dancing over the border in Lancashire. Because this is my own show I have become closer to my staff here than at any previous job, I am going to be genuinely sorry to lose the brigade who are departing this year. I know most of the gang call in at Yorkshire Soul from time to time, and because I might be either tongue tied or embarrassingly pissed at tonight's leaving do I'm going to praise you lot to the heavens here. It's been a fun year working with Becca, seldom dull, often, ahem, shall we say interesting ? On occasion exasperating, but seldom dull. Becca likes to party to excess , listens to far too much Oasis (which by my definition is ay at all) but still manages to keep the kitchen running in a more or less orderly fashion. Thanks for the last year Becca, it's been a lot of fun. Becca is going on to train as a nurse, they say laughter is the best medicine, nurse Becca should cure a whole heap of folk then. I would like to wish Ros all the best for your travels to Paris and Barcelona, you lucky bugger, fancy getting to work in two of the world's really great cities. Ros is a little bit of a quiet soul at work, whereas I'm a noisy metalhead, our interests are so different that we're not the most garrulous pair when we are working together, but Ros, if you read this, I think you are star. Always pleasant, always smiling, never, ever complaining and endlessly hard working, (I was especially impressed with you on the BBQ when when we ended up short staffed and you took over the kitchen whilst I was stranded out on the BBQ), keep in touch Ros, I'd love to hear stories from Europe. Rachel has been with me from my first season here at IGC, I know you say it is because it's the most convenient job for you Rach, with you living only a minute's walk away, but it is a job you have performed well and always with a smile (often a bemused smile at the rubbish I spout). If you want to come back to work during uni holidays you will be most welcome. Quiet Jenna sees both sides of the fence here at the club, she's a club member and a member of staff, I just trust she doesn't tell the rest of the membership anything that's said in the kitchen. A short story about Jenna......we were doing a really busy night, it was warm and summery and the lady guests were sitting out on the balcony in their finest, I had been serving food on the balcony and wandered back into the kitchen. "There's some really great crumpet here tonight," I said. "Check out the bird on the balcony in the white jacket, she's so hot." I thought the girls were ignoring me but I got a result when Jenna came back in to the kitchen a few minutes later and shouted in outrage.... "THAT'S MY MUM!". Cheers Jenna, and your mum's still a babe! Clare B, fairy Clare, always gives off that air of not being entirely on the same level as everyone else, completely mad when her and Becca are working together, completely in love when she's working with Steven (I be you're blushing now Clare!). The work always gets done though, thanks Clare. If any of you want to come back to work, you will be most welcome, holidays, gap years, whenever, just give me a ring. My staff have been, and still are, the brightest, most beautiful, hard working, exceptionally pleasant, sometimes maddening, always fun to work with brigade I could hope for, and that includes all the folk who have not been mentioned here. The end of summer roll call looks like this, Chefling Steven, Carol, Jessica, Sarah, Libby and Robyn, you guys are just as special as the ones I have been praising here. Thanks for all your hard work during your time here, despite being a grumbling old sod in the kitchen I do actually appreciate all your efforts. We'll raise a glass or two together tonight, best wishes for the future, I won't wish you good luck, you will create your own luck by your own hard work. Call back tomorrow, I've got a word about university life for you.