Workdays and Weekends: Colin Laing

This week we caught a super early riser to chat all about his busy workdays and weekends. Colin is the bakery manager at Murrays the bakers and works from 1am until 9am or 4.30am until 3pm to make sure that our favourite family bakers have enough tasty pineapple cakes and world famous pies to keep us stocked up! 

We have a right good chat and plenty of laughs finding out about making award winning Scotch pies (and nope, he wouldn't give us the secret recipe, we did try!) to a relaxing weekend away with his partner in a Hobbit hut - all whilst sipping a warm cuppie and enjoying a steaming hot pie of course!

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?

Up very early for a short drive into Perth. Go into bakery and check if there are any orders for the day. Get set up to produce bakery goods and see what is needed for the day, speak to all the bakers to see that they all know what is to be done that day.

I make sure we have enough stock and order anything we need and speak to the shop staff to let them know what is happening for the day. I will then bake off goods for the shop opening at 7am and keep baking pies and other goods etc throughout the day to make sure that we have hot goods all day long for our hungry customers.

I take phone calls from suppliers, try and solve any issues that may arise and keep the owner updated on what is going on. Near the end of the day I make sure we have enough goods to sell until the shop closes at 5pm.

2. What signals the start of your weekend / days off?

What’s a weekend? If I’m not needed to cover shifts, my weekend officially starts on Friday night however I am in contact on a Saturday to check all is well. I start to catch up on the TV I've missed during the week because I have an early start and may occasionally push the boat out and have a beer!

3. What makes for a perfect night in

A takeway for tea and watching a good film with my partner. It’s great to chill out with no phone calls.

4. What makes for a memorable day or night out?

Catching up with friends and family. I like going away for the day, often taking the pushbike and taking in the scenery and the peace and quiet.

5. Tell us about the weekend you’d love to live again?

Going up to Loch Ness on the motorbike with my partner. We stayed in a hobbit hut on the banks of Loch Ness chilling out, eating out and exploring the beautiful scenery. Simple but perfect. Oh, and my daughters 21st was a great weekend too, they grow up too fast!

6. And now your best ever day at work?

Winning the World Scotch Pie competition in 2015. It was great to see the hard work and dedication by all staff at Murrays being recognised on a national level. Not only good for Murrays as a small, family run business, but for our customers as they come from far and wide and were as delighted as we all were at the result. 

7. Any workday or weekend rituals?

I start each day with a coffee that my night shift baker has ready for me coming in. 

8. What’s in the perfect day off breakfast?

A full Scottish cooked breakfast, all the extras and must have tattie scones. Preferably in a hotel, and no need to do the dishes.

9. Any words of wisdom for us?

You only live once. Live life to its full potential as you never know what is round the corner. Stay positive because negativity gets you nowhere. 

***

Colin is the Bakery Manager of Murrays the Bakers in Perth.