January Blues! Now that we’ve reached February it’s time to tell you that I definitely didn’t suffer from them. The last two Januarys have been difficult but January 2023 you most definitely rocked and brought back to me why I love what I do.
Once Christmas and New Year is over we just seem to think about the long month ahead and look forward to the daylight getting longer. But this year I didn’t have time to think about all that. On the 3rd January (which was a bank holiday for us in Scotland), I was packing the car, including my running kit and heading down country. YAY, the Oxford Farming Conference was back in person!
How fantastic it was to be back in Oxford to catch up with all those people you only seen once a year (but hadn’t actually for three years) and to meet others in person that you had only spoken to online. I knew I had missed this event but I didn’t realise how much until I returned. It was great to hear what has been happening in the industry and where we see the future going.
Then it was back up home and straight into work catching up on those emails that I had been sent while I was away and of course some follow ups from conversation I had while I was down country. I again didn’t have much time to think of what a depressing month this is supposed to be as #Run1000 began only 48hrs after my return home. So another week of January just flew by as I ran and walked for my team as well as supporting others taking part. It was great to see the camaraderie and banter continuing as it does every year while highlighting Rural Mental Health and supporting some great charities.
Before I knew it, we were already half way through this supposedly awful month and I hadn’t even noticed!
But my travels weren’t over yet. As hurrah, an annual event in Scotland’s food and drink calendar had returned and to its rightful date in January. So, time to pack the car again and head to Glasgow for Scotland’s Speciality Food Show at the SEC in Glasgow.
I’ve always enjoyed going to this show. The business to business exchanges during the day are great but what makes it even more enjoyable is the evening socialising when groups of us will get together, chat through the past 12 months and our thoughts for how the next 12 will be. It’s a chance to chat through our businesses with people in the same industry who understand each other as well as the problems and opportunities we have. There is a trust with one that benefits our well being and gives us an opportunity to relax.
After a year of uncertainty and the doom and gloom it was also very uplifting that there was such a positivity at this years show.
So, January Blues? Not here there wasn’t!