FAMILY AFFAIR
I used to work from home, which before the kids worked great. However now I have an office so I can keep work and play separate. I go to work, and then come home and spend time with the family; it’s great to keep work and family separate. Before this I found myself working all the time, although working less efficiently. It is tough fitting everything in but obviously my wife Nayra has been amazing through all this. She really is the super mum! It is pretty tough for her taking care of the family with all my trips away. Since the New Year I have been to Italy three or four times, South Africa for 3 weeks and China for two, so Nayra was left with both of the children.
CHINA
It is really useful to visit all the factories. I deal with them on a day to day basis by email so it makes such a difference when you actually get to know the person you are talking to face to face. It is also imperative to check how everything is being produced and that the quality levels are up to standard. It is much easier to see what options you have and discuss changes when you are at the factory. It just speeds up the whole process. The first couple of trips were quite exciting as it was a new place and really different world, but now the novelty has worn off a bit! It is still always an interesting learning experience though.