On Monday January 6th, the scales confirmed I’d had an exceedingly good Christmas. Half a stone above fighting weight but oh, so worth it. For two glorious weeks, the Michelsberg log fire had crackled along to the bubble of my gastric juices. Every single calorie had been savoured with relish. The sweet, aromatic taste of…
As the proverb goes, “If you build it, they will come.” That was my hope on Friday 6th December at 5.30pm, when The Tingley Brass Band raised their horns to kick off the Michelsberg Christmas Party 2013. Corks popped and the scent of mulled wine filled the air, as my customers, suppliers, family and friends,…
With a big thanks to Chris Thompson at Broken Clock Photographic, I can now introduce “Michelsberg – The Movie.” Enjoy.
At my wedding, my best man and college friend Paul said in his speech, “over the years we’ve shared many highs together, some legal…” Whilst this might be true, I doubt many were better than the one I got from hosting my customer party last Thursday evening. After a last minute flood of “sorry we…
Baron Pierre de Coubertin (the founder of the Olympics) said, “It’s not the winning but the taking part that counts.” Utter tosh. These are the words of the loser, the also-ran, the dud, the deadbeat, the defeated. In battle there is no prize for runner-up. Coming first is everything. One day, like Brian Clough, I…
“The Laziest Tailor in Leeds” has been at it again folks. Last week I hung my tape-measure over my dummy and left the showroom for a week’s holiday in Portugal. In truth, I do put the hours in, and whilst bespoke tailoring and running my own business is something I love, six day weeks, tight…
Out for lunch with a customer last Friday, I felt the sun’s warmth on my cheek for the first time in ages. The restaurant was buzzing, people were smiling and one duck pappardelle later I left, ready to cast the dark, dank, cloak of winter from my shoulders. From a cloth point of view, the…
Another year, another dollar, and after what has been a highly indulgent Christmas, it seems another chin. For ten gloriously gluttonous days I put my feet up, except for an enjoyable trip to Helmsley for a photo-shoot with two new customers. Introducing brothers George and James Craig, from the band, ‘One Night Only.’ They knocked…
Last Sunday I enjoyed a perfect quiet moment to myself. Wallowing by the log fire with a belly full of lamb shanks, I raised a glass of Chianti to the newly installed Christmas tree in the corner and looked forward to my favourite time of the year. To me, Christmas is all about the build-up,…
As I staggered into the coat-makers with half a dozen fittings in each hand, my bag over my shoulder and a length of cloth and lining under my arm, I recalled the words of Thomas Edison: “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” I raised my eyes to the sky, thanked the Lord for…