Happy (Easter) Monday everyone!
Here are some of my recent reflections from over the past few weeks that I hope will inspire, inform, and spark new ideas in your world.
What I‘ve LEARNED
I once believed that cooking didn’t need to be complicated. In fact, I had a foolproof philosophy: find one solid dish, master it, and serve it at every possible opportunity. Enter: the Chicken Pesto Bake.
Taught to me by an old housemate who, this dish was nothing short of revolutionary to my mid-twenties self. Chicken. Pesto. Cheese. Pasta. Bake. That’s five ingredients and a food group. What more could you want?
It became my signature dish. The culinary equivalent of a greatest hits album—reliable, familiar, and played a lot. Dinner party? Chicken pesto bake. Date night? Chicken pesto bake.
It became such a running joke among friends that I was labelled a one-trick pony. But in my defence, that one trick had serious chops: it even managed to impress the woman who would eventually become my wife. First time I cooked for her? Yep. The bake. Say what you want about versatility, but it clearly had something going for it.
That said, times change. And now, with a little more time on my hands (and a gentle nudge from the family), I’ve decided to branch out. Dusting off the old cookbooks, scrolling Instagram like a hungry apprentice, even daring to use spices with names I can’t pronounce and didnt even realise existed!
And the funny thing is—I’m actually enjoying it. Who knew that I, the Pesto Bake Purist, could whip up a Thai curry or tackle a tray of roasted veg with something approaching flair? The family have gone from raised eyebrows to second helpings. I’ve even retired the bake… well, mostly.
Here’s to expanding the repertoire—and proving that even one-trick ponies can learn a new dish or two.
What I’ve LIKED
One of the unexpected joys of stepping away from the daily grind is the gift of time—not just for big, life-changing things, but for the small, often-overlooked moments too.
Like catching up with people I used to see in meeting rooms and conference calls, who once filled my calendar but had slowly drifted into the background of LinkedIn scrolls and half-written messages.
Lately, I’ve found myself reconnecting with old work acquaintances. A coffee here, a quick catch-up call there. No agenda, no pitch, no “ask”—just a genuine curiosity about where life and work have taken them. It’s funny how the years slip by, but the shared experiences—those tough projects, big wins, late nights—can instantly bring the familiarity flooding back.
There’s something grounding about it. A reminder that beyond the roles and titles, we’re all just people navigating our own paths. And sometimes, it’s nice to circle back and see where those paths have led.
Here’s to picking up old threads—and finding there’s still plenty of story left in them.
What I’ve LOVED
Its less than a month since I officially broke from the corporate world, but what I have loved is the quiet kind of joy in realising that time is no longer a luxury, but a choice.
This Easter break felt different. Not because of the chocolate (although I’m a sucker for Tony’s Chocolonely eggs), but because I was fully present. No looming deadlines. No Slack notifications pinging like popcorn in the background. No sneaky “just taking one quick call” in the middle of a family day out.
This year, I watched my daughter beam with pride as she took to the stage in a dance competition and came first, earning the opportunity to receive a dance bursary with it. I wasn’t rushing from meeting to matinee—I was there from warm-up to taking the stage, cheering her on, coffee in one hand, emotion in the other.
And then there’s the forest—fresh air, freedom, and a bit of much-needed escapism. My son’s been into mountain biking for a while now, and after countless drives to trail parks, watching him disappear into the trees with a grin on his face, I had a moment.
Why not join him? Why should he get all the fun?
So, I did something about it. I found myself a second-hand mountain bike—an absolute bargain (which, let’s be honest, brings me almost as much joy as the biking itself)—and hit the trails alongside him. Mud flying, legs burning, hearts full.
We didn’t talk about anything particularly deep. No big life lessons or father-son heart-to-hearts. Just the rhythm of the ride and the quiet understanding that this, right here, is the stuff that matters.
Stepping out of the 9-5 has meant stepping into something deeper: presence, connection, and these little everyday moments that turn into lasting memories.
Here’s to more muddy rides and standing ovations.
Final thought:
Here is a song to kick start your week:
If you would like to read the latest Monday Morning Musings then subscribe here:
- From Disney to drinking and the moments that matter – Monday 26th Jan 2026.
- Stories, Suppers, and the Small Joys of Learning – From 8th Dec 2025.
- Small Experiments, Big Reminders- From 8th Sept 2025.
- Adapting to AI, Moments that Matter & Living with Lions – From 23rd June 2025.
- Baking, Biking and Being Back in Touch- From 21st April 2025.
Monday Morning Musings 
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