How Rick Stein Saved My Life

It's all over bar the shouting, two more diploma lunches, and Hervé and Chris cooking lunch for us all on Friday.

Yesterday Was Liviy's diploma lunch, and I was one of her two helpers. Liviy (yes that's how she spells it I have discovered) was the one who disappeared for two weeks under the strain, only returning just over a week ago. It wasn't just the course though, she told me. She is a lovely girl, very quiet (a big bonus in my opinion!), so I'm really pleased for her. Mummy and Daddy flew over from Hong Kong for the occasion. This was clearly a trip they didn't have to think twice about, such is their obvious wealth. Being on front of house duty I got to talk quite a bit to both of them, particularly Mummy, who am I now madly in love with, but I'm guessing its not going to go anywhere.

Photo above: the path round the cliffs to the harbour at Dunbar. I went to Dunbar because one of the few family holidays I had a a child was a few days in a hotel in the town. The purpose of the holiday (as far as I was concerned) was to go to the Commonwealth Games which were in Edinburgh that year (1970 it would be), but having got there my Dad decided he didn't want to go to them after all. I'm still recovering from that blow. Oh yes, and I didn't manage to find the hotel.

At least I have crossed one career option off my list. Front of house. I must have lost about 3 stones yesterday trekking in and around the dining room, up and down the stairs, serving and clearing, pouring drinks, as well as helping prepare some of the food. 8 til 5.30 without a break. I will never again criticise a waiter. It would have been slightly easier had my (only worn once before) black trousers not been quite so tight, and my all black outfit not been quite so keen to absorb all the heat of the kitchen, but I guess that's just an occupational hazzard.

It was a beautiful day yesterday, bright sunshine all day, so I strolled into town to meet Ian, the school owner, for a beer wearing just a shirt. As we came out of the pub an ice-cold chainmail curtain was being dragged across the city - the haar which, my taxi driver informed me, often compensates for a few days of warm weather in these parts. Its still sitting on top of the city this morning as I write.

Photos above and below: Dunbar. Whe I was telling Stef about my day out in the pub on Sunday night, the bloke at the bar in front of us turned round, stared at me, and said "You're pronouncing it wrong - its f&%%ing Dunbar", then turned back again. Seemed like quite a nice place to me.

So, portfolio done, business presentation done, business plan handed in, that's about it. It will be a few weeks before I get my overall grade. I think most people will have passed - probably Kate and maybe Alex being the exceptions, so the distinguishing feature will be whether we each get a Pass, Merit or Distinction. I will let you know.

Photo left: Pain Perdu with caramelised apples and cinnamon sugar, courtesy of Mr Stein, photographed in the kitchen at Blackford Road

Where does Rick Stein come into it? I had bought, or been given his book Fruits of the Sea quite a few years ago, but cooked almost nothing from it because all the dishes seemed far too difficult. Over the last few weeks I've gone back to the book, and the recipes now seen quite straightforward, as well as being very tasty and beautifully presented. I cooked two dishes from the book for my fish assessment, and have just completed my portfolio by cooking two desserts from the same book. And no, they don't feature fish. It has made me realise what a long way I've come, at least in a culinary sense.

What else have I learned over the last 6 months? A lot of things. Have I achieved what I set out to? Yes. You're not going to bore us with all the details are you? No, hopefully you've picked them up along the way. However I do have a new life motto, which will replace my previous "Be True To Yourself", and it's this:

Just Get On With It.