Its not all about fish you know.!!

Last week the team at Goatsbridge Trout Farm attended the UK’s Food and Drink trade show at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC)

A number of people in the fish and food marketing areas wondered why we would go to the expense and bother of the trip. We were even advised that we were wasting our time!

Richard Branson tells us to 'Look, Listen and learn’ and if it works for the Virgin group it works for us at Goatsbridge trout. We went there to look, listen and learn. We wanted to get a different perspective on the wider European food industry. We had a plan. We had identified a number of people to talk to and some stands to view and some keynote speaker to listen to.

We listened to the industry speakers, spoke to the people we had targeted and others beside, visited the stands we wanted to and guess what – I have an Idea (of which more later!!)

On another matter – anyone know the identity of this person?

Darina Allen

I think we have a new generation of Celebrity chiefs. None will compare with Darina Allen. She is a champion of local artisan food producers and a woman close to my heart.
I met her for the first time last year at the Harvest Festival in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.She was busy and did not have time for a chat, much to my disappointment.I gave her 'minder' a packet of smoked trout to give to her later. Two days later I got a hand written letter from Darina thanking me for the" lovely treat" she had on her return home that evening.I could not believe it.! What a lady and she certainly had time for a chat a few months later when she graced us with her presence at my open day here on the farm in Goatsbridge.
Alas she is unable to come to the launch of our 'Taste of Kilkenny ' food trail on April 19th.She will be greatly missed but she will be with us in spirit.!!May she continue to inspire for many years to come.

Men are from Venus,woman are from Mars!!

I love my husband dearly but boy are we different.!!People often ask what is it like to work with your spouse.Fantastic is the usual answer but I always have to clarify that statement.We are very different but this business need both parties on board. Time has thought us to clearly define our roles . Ger looks after operations and I look after everything else.
We meet in the office to discuss ongoing issues and try not to bring them up in bed at 11 o'clock at night.!!!
I know someone who works from home and who walks out her front door every morning , walks to the gate and returned to begin her working day. She does the same at night. Now I hear you say are all my friends so weird but it works for her in the same way I am mammy the minute I walk into my home which is beside my office.
Men are from Venus,Woman are from mars.!!!
One day after a night out my husband stepped out of his trousers and jumped into bed. He reminded me to put air in the right hand tire the following day. I lost my life when I noticed his pants having spent 15 minutes ironing the bloody thing. The following day we happen to be going out again and he wore his wrinkled pants which I refused to re iron. En route Ger exploded as I had failed to put air in the tire that day.Could I understand his frustration. No. We are so different but could I live without him . I dread to think.!!!