Wednesday 28th July Was the season’s peak hit last week when we contrived, struggled and pushed out a new all time record of 32 relief jobs placed in the one week to go with a round dozen adverts and four permanent placements. Was that it, or is there more to come from what has been an up and down season for us, one minute quiet and then next, the work comes poring in and we have to put a halt to it. Jojo was off at The Wickerman festival last Friday so it was left to Emma to set the new record by managing to conjure up a chef at 3.30pm last Friday afternoon to go up to Rosemarkie from Inverness the next day to cook at an Old peoples’ home overlooking the Moray Firth. The chef, who shall remain nameless, duly pitched up and completed his two days work to every ones’ satisfaction. This week at almost half past ten, there is a slight feeling of listlessness in the office with a light grey sky outside the office window and radio 2 playing on downstairs. Webmail, one of our portals to the outside world via email is currently taking a morning sabbatical and is not working. Enough of a Wednesday morning whinge though and let us get onto “Out and About” Who is where and why and often when and for how long? Better give Billy “The Blether” Brodrick a mention this time as feedback this year has been excellent, asked back to the 2AA Rosette Balcary Bay Hotel where his pastry skills tied in with an ability to do sauce have made him a rare creature. 10.57am Chefs In Scotland Limited has just bought a house in Moffat and as of September, on my return from holidaylets@chefsinscotland.co.uk Right, vaguely back to the plot. So young Richard duly gained back his grade 5 status last week after failing to pitch back up at The Courtyard as we always kind of new that he would. He did in the hour of need show up and do the business last month though for which I remain grateful. All the best for now Richard and I hope you get everything sorted out and get back on track. Stuart MacColl again deserves a mention this week for the impossible task of working in three places at the same time. Looking back at last week’s record 32 relief chef placements (still a bit to go Plate Carriers) and third placement on day one is S MacColl off to Dryburgh Abbey for three days of which today will be the last one. 21st placement of the week, again one Peter Hillhouse, from Moffat, has been superb on relief this year. Currently up getting everything ready for the Opening of The Wide Mouth Frog over by Oban with Patrick O’Donnel helping out. So far Peter has Aberfeldy, Huntly and Bieldside which proved to be a bit of a ball breaker for many but Peter just got on with it. Well done Peter. Meanwhile at Fishers in Pitlochry, Stephen McKinley and Mark Wildman hold fort. Chris Daily has been for his week and gone and is now replaced by excellent Kenyan Chef Michael Njoroge. Holding the summer season together in Pitlochry which again seems to be the centre of chef activity in Young golfer, Erwin Weiss, is fresh from a couple of days down at The Argyll Inn in Lochgilphead and getting ready to come back down to Dumfriesshire for his monthly stock take at a post-French Auchencastle and his monthly beating at Moffat Golf club on Monday night. Mario Pohlman is proving to be the most durable of the Skye boys, working away in Argyll at Loch Fyne Oyster, and managing to ride out two placements which were a little difficult to say the least. Well done Mario and hang in there. Mark Gilbert was placed by us in about 2004 at Loch Ness Clansman as a seasonal sous chef with Ian Miller who was the owner at the time and came along to our little golf competition that year. This year whilst looking for a permanent job Mark has taken some relief work on at The Whitehorse in Balmeddie alongside Grade 1 relief chef Andy Mill. Feedback is good Mark, well done. Graham Winter is coming to the end of his time in Newton Stewart on relief and will be taking up his new position as a lecturer in the Scottish Borders along with some part time work in Lasswade. Glad it is all working out well Graham and we will catch up for that game of snooker soon. OK, it is 11.31 and the phones have picked up a little so going to call it a day for now and move back to “arranging interviews” and hunting for new jobs as they come in. Got that Chefs In Many thanks for your continued support and patience Michael in Moffat