Three Years Ago - An Explanation

Three years ago I turned 40, perhaps for some people a cause for celebration and a huge party with all your friends, perhaps one last rave up before you retire? I didn’t, no, instead I finished at my full time, comfortable salaried position at the greatest cricket ground in the world and became self employed.

Even when I handed in my resignation I was okay, it was not until the Saturday night of my first week that it began to hit me. We were half way through renovations, my wife was 4 months pregnant, we lived in a one bedroom flat in Hackney and I did not have a job. I seriously only slept a few hours a night for almost a week.

On the Wednesday night (my birthday), Mrs K took me to the Ritz for late afternoon tea, she treated me so well and wanted to look after me, it was incredible, and I was so tired. During that day, I was using her Apple mac laptop to do all my planning, went into a nearby cafe with wifi and somehow locked all the computer. Massively stressed, I went to Apple store and basically begged them to help me fix it, jumping the queue who were waiting. I don’t know how, but they did. ‘Please, it’s my 40th birthday, you have to help me’ while sweating and wild eyed/dark circles may have helped.

However, now, our business is three years old on August 14th, we employ 13 people, we have a two and half year old who is just amazing, and Mrs K is the most beautiful and supportive friend that I have. I have met as customers some totally wonderful people and employed some absolutely incredible ones who have made Kaffeine their life in London  too.

(Forty) Three years old. This birthday, I took the day off with my wife and went out for a lovely breakfast at St John Hotel, followed by some shopping and then lunch at Barrafina, then on Saturday we went for dinner at Hawksmoor Seven Dials with business partner Hayden.

I still don’t sleep well, but hey, that’s the life, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Peter Dore-Smith
Director
Kaffeine Ltd
66 Great Titchfield st.
15 Eastcastle st.