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The day after Alicante was a sea day as the ship headed north towards France. The twins happily went off to the reef where they had made friends with nearly everyone there. The adults decided that as their balconies were in the shade they would look for loungers by the pool, but it was madly busy by the Crystal Pool. They eventually found three loungers together on the same deck near the Infinity Pool and Bar at the stern of the ship and settled down to laze in the sun.
Jinnie had only just resumed reading the latest Robert Galbraith novel on her Kindle when her iPhone rang. Digging it out from the bottom of her bag she saw it was “Brooke Calling” on the screen and decided that it was probably important as she wouldn’t normally bother her on holiday. Brooke said, “Hello Jinnie, I’m sorry to ring you while you are on holiday, but something has come up that really needs a policy decision from you.” “Go on,” replied Jinnie. “Well, you know the contract catering people were bidding for the contract to supply all the meals on about a dozen oil and gas production rigs off the Gulf Coast of Florida, well they have secured the order,” continued Brooke.
“That’s excellent news,” said Jinnie, “but I don’t see how there is a policy decision there. We had worked out exactly how we were going to service the contract out of Tampa and we had everything lined up for Monica to take on more office space.” “It’s not that,” replied Brooke. “It seems that they have a complex of six production rigs and two exploration rigs in the North Sea, where the current catering contract expires in four months and they want Leah to bid for the new contract, it’s to last for five years and we would be up against the incumbent.”
“Of course, the problem is,” continued Brooke, “Leah is based in the Caribbean and has no experience of British conditions, it was a bit of a stretch bidding in the Gulf of Mexico, but we had the Tampa complex to base things on. We have no one in the UK to handle this bid and we would need to set up offices and people to service things in the UK. I remember you saying you wanted to tackle the UK contract catering market, but not for a couple of years, when we were big enough.”
“That’s right,” replied Jinnie. “I didn’t want to go into a market where no one knew us as a contract caterer until we had some experience. Well, this oil company has come to us presumably because they like what we have done for them so far, and obviously we have put in competitive tenders for the jobs we have won. Now I am thinking on my feet here, but this could be our way into the UK market. I have a few questions. Does Leah know how serious the client is. I mean is he just using us to get the incumbents to not tender a stupid number to roll over the contract or is he seriously considering a change of caterer.”
“Leah said they seemed serious, they are not happy with the current contractor servicing the North Sea,” replied Brooke. “She says they think that the food quality and quantities have gone down in recent months, and the crews are beginning to grumble. Apparently the quality of food on a rig is highly important. The crew expect and get the best, and lots of it. Poor food upsets the crew and shows up in production numbers even before they start talking industrial action. So, they expect a high quality from their contractors. Leah says she got the impression they were not impressed as standards were slipping and they were definitely not looking to use us as a stalking horse.”
“Righto,” replied Jinnie. “Let’s do a bit of thinking. We would need someone in the UK with a team to put this together even if we used the Caribbean to put in the bid. When you interviewed Sebastian for the Caribbean job, was there anyone else in contention?” “A couple were quite good but not to be at the top of a company,” answered Brooke. “That’s OK,” said Jinnie. “Any hire should report to Leah or Sebastian, I know they are a long way away, but we could get Sebastian back in the UK for a bit to set this up, he and Leah are proving to be very capable.”
“Now have you spoken to any of the other directors about this yet,” Jinnie continued. “We need to get a space for the team to work in. I’ll ring Brian, if this comes off we will need another floor. Are these rigs in the south or the north of the North Sea, are we going to have to set up something in Aberdeen or maybe further south?” “I understand they are in the Dogger Bank and are currently serviced out of Hull,” replied Brooke. “Good,” said Jinnie. “We can probably handle most things out of Potters Bar, with a smallish satellite office in Hull. Can you talk to Nigel about IT, tell him what we have discussed, if we win this we have a foot in the door for UK catering and might need to expand quickly. Talk to Seb and Leah, tell them I want to go flat out on this one. They are not, repeat not, to load the tender with the UK set up costs, we’ll wear them as HQ overheads.”
“Get a head of the UK catering company in quickly from your shortlist,” said Jinnie, now in full business mode. “I don’t care if we have to pay to get them out of their current contract. Get Seb over to help set this up, stick him in a decent hotel, he could be here a month. Talk to HR, we are going to need bodies, let’s have say half a dozen minimum initially. Let’s see if we can borrow some from around the divisions, we need buyers, admin, someone with tender writing experience, try Belinda. Get Sir Nigel to help, it is new business and he is new business director, and Property to find a potential satellite office in Hull.”
“I think I have got all that down,” said Brooke. “You really want to go all out to get this one!” “Absolutely,” replied Jinnie. “We have a chance to break into a multi-billion-pound UK market. It’s being presented to us on a plate, and I want to grab it with both hands. I always thought we would have to buy our way into the UK market and take a job at a big loss, just to get a foot in the door. Well, it looks like that door is open a few inches and I intend to barge through. Win this job and we will be all over the cover of Catering magazine. Then we will get more companies asking us to bid, I want to be tendering for multiple jobs by Christmas. Ring me this afternoon, I want to be kept up to date on this one.”
***
Jinnie immediately rang Brian who answered on the second ring saying, “Hi Jinnie, I thought you were on holiday. It must be important for you to ring me. How can I help?” “Are you free to talk? This is important and could take a while,” asked Jinnie. “I’m in my office, give me a moment while I shut the door and get my note pad as I feel a load of orders are coming on.”
Jinnie chuckled and was quickly relating her conversation with Brooke, interrupted by the occasional question from Brian. When she finished Brian said, “OK, I think I’ve got all that. Now the good news, Bearcat Contract Catering (UK) Limited already exists as a subsidiary company, I am the sole director, but it is a moment’s work setting up structure to suit this bid. You are right, we are definitely going to need more office space, things are getting a bit tight here already, and I was going to raise it at the next board meeting. I have had a preliminary chat with the landlord and have ample funds available for this project. I’m now used to things popping up, so I have taken to having several millions put aside in a contingency fund, ready for just this sort of thing.”
“In your absence,” Brian continued, “Sir Nigel is once again stepping up, so he’s my next stop. I don’t know if Brooke has spoken to him yet, but I’m going to find out very soon. Apart from money matters, I think I can take a back seat. Brooke and Sir Nigel have the abilities to set this up. But I have a question, do you intend this to be a one off, or is this the start of a push into the U.K. contract catering business.” “I would like it to be the start of a new UK business,” replied Jinnie, “but it all depends on winning this bid. Win and the Bearcat name will be all over the trade press and hopefully we will be asked to bid for a lot more contracts. Lose and it’s back to the original plan, grow big in the Caribbean and bid here later.”
***
As Jinnie put her mobile back in her bag she realised that Paolo and Izzy were looking at her. Paolo said, “I don’t think I seen you in that mode before. That was different, you were so animated. I’d hate to be up against you in a board meeting, you were driven.” Jinnie replied, “Business and family are two completely different things, they don’t normally meet, I keep them compartmented. But very occasionally, like just now, they touch each other. I may have to take another couple of calls on this project, but I have very capable people at the top so they will only be updating me on progress.” Jinnie pulled out her Kindle and buried herself in her book as if nothing had happened.
The twins arrived back for lunch clutching sandwiches and cookies. Jinnie said, “I thought today was going to be a burger day.” “It was,” replied Willie, “be we came up in the Aft lift and got out in the Buffet and walked past the sandwich bar on the way to get burgers and decided on egg salad today as it looked so good.” Izzy added, “and I got Turkey and Ham salad with English mustard.” “Gosh that looks good,” said Jinnie, “come on Paolo, my mouth is watering.”
By the time Jinnie and Paolo returned the twins had finished their sandwiches and were into their chocolate chip cookies. Millie asked, “Mummy please can we have Seven Up Zero today.” “That’s ok,” replied Jinnie, “just so long as it’s the sugar free one I don’t mind.” Willie said, “We like this pool, it’s different and looks like you can swim off the back of the ship into the sea.” Millie added, “It’s not as busy as the Crystal Pool and there is a splash area.”
After lunch the twins asked if they had time to go in the pool before the afternoon session started at the Reef. Izzy and Jinnie worked it out that there wasn’t, but promised they would all go in, after the afternoon session at the Reef. Izzy took the twins off to the Reef each happily holding one of her hands. As she settled down in the sun Jinnie’s phone rang again.
“Hi Boss,” said Brooke. “Just an update, no problems. It’s been all hands to the pump this morning. Sebastian is flying in overnight. I’m picking up at Heathrow, and we are having a team kick off meeting in the Potters Bar board room. Sir Nigel has suggested that Seb stays with him as the Hotels around Potters Bar aren’t wonderful for a long stay, they don’t have a decent restaurant between them. As you know Sir Nigel loves his food, so I suspect Seb is going to get fed up with fine dining.”
“Brian has a new floor under control and says to tell you it is looking good,” continued Brooke. “Belinda has been looking at two different floors, 11 and 14, with Jason and Mike from property this morning. She favoured 11, it needs very little work, mainly painting and furniture, computers and a few offices. She suggests that half the area can be done at a time leaving the other half to be occupied by Bearcat Catering. She says even with new carpets, a half shouldn’t take more than a fortnight to do up. Brian says he has got a good deal on the lease, and the landlord is going to do the lift lobby and toilets to the same standard as our existing floors. Nigel has PCs on order from his usual supplier, Belinda say she can get the furniture on short notice and has got her people working on a layout and offices.”
Brooke added, “HR have been brilliant, we have 6 people ready to start as soon as we have desks and computers for them, and another six who will be moved over as soon as they can finish what they are working on. I have spoken to Chris Jones on the phone, he was the runner-up when we hired Seb. He was at work, so it was a bit of a one-sided conversation. He confirmed he was still looking to move on from his current job, so I am having dinner with him tonight at the Trattoria Trevi, Turners Hill. Unless something disastrous turns up I’ll offer him the job tonight, reporting to Seb, then Leah and finally me. HR have sorted a package for me to offer including a basic C5.”
“Just a couple more things,” said Brooke. “Mike and Belinda are off on the early train to Hull tomorrow and back on the last one. They have got first class reservations which come with free sandwiches and drinks. I wonder how Belinda will get on with a hot sausage bap with brown sauce on the way out! They have a few places lined up to see. Finally, it’s been suggested by Alberto that I need an office in Potters Bar. What do you think?” “You have been busy,” replied Jinnie. “I’m delighted with progress. Don’t forget we need Chris Jones ASAP, if it is on Monday all the better. Do you know where he lives?”
“Egham I think,” replied Brooke. “That’s within commuting distance of Potters Bar,” said Jinnie. “If he is hesitant, offer him a relocation package. You know, moving fee, estate agent fees, soft furnishings and carpets, even add in stamp duty if we need to do it to get him on board. Don’t forget we will buy out his current contract if we need to. I want this North Sea contract. Have you seen the tender documents yet?” “Seb is bringing the original copy over,” replied Brooke, “but they have made a PDF of it and put it all on SAP. I have got legal making sure there is nothing onerous in the specifications. So far I have speed read most of the section we need to fill in and return to become a qualified bidder. It’s all stuff like making sure we have been in business more than two years, we have some female directors, and we obey the equal pay regulations. Leah says they passed this step easily for the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean contract, so it is really only a formality.”
“You seem to have everything under control. Let me know tomorrow if Chris is on board. We are in Toulon and Paolo and I are going sightseeing, the twins are staying on board with Izzy as there is something on at the children’s club that is too important to miss. We are going to wander the old town and the market, go up the mountain in the cable car and have a long lunch in a seafood restaurant Paolo has had recommended. So please don’t phone until teatime or early evening. Oh, I nearly forgot, I agree with Alberto it’s high time you had an office in Potters Bar. Belinda has one in both Crawley and Potters Bar, as do Andrew and Clive. With this Bearcat Contract Catering UK bid taking off over the next couple of months I can see you having to spend a lot of time in Head Office and I don’t want you squatting in a meeting room. Tell Belinda to include an office for you on the new floor, unless she can fiddle the offices on the Executive floor. I don’t think there is a spare space at the moment, but she might be able to shift things around now we are taking the 11th Floor as well as our current two.”
***
The twins arrived in their parents’ suite ready for the third formal night of the cruise dressed in their best. Willie said, “Mummy, Millie and I have been talking, and we decided we like the Infinity Pool better than the Crystal Pool.” “Really,” replied Jinnie, “why’s that?” “It’s not as busy and it bigger,” said Millie. “It’s certainly quieter,” said Jinnie. “There’s only a bit of background music and no quiz, DJ or band on the stage. But I don’t think it’s bigger, maybe it’s an illusion caused by it being an infinity pool.” Willie said, “We still think it is bigger.”
Izzy took the twins back to their cabin after dinner and as they got ready for bed, Millie said, “We like formal nights, we get to try lots of different food.” “But there are always nice things on the menu,” replied Izzy. “But formal nights are the best,” said Willie. “Pudding was good, we liked that raspberry thing and then we had extra ice cream.” “You two and ice cream,” said Izzy. “You’d eat it until it came out of your ears. But I agree that raspberry thing was a soufflé, and it was really good and the clotted cream ice cream with it was fabulous.” “We going to write about it in our review,” said Millie. “You’re writing a review,” said Izzy. “Of course,” said Willie, “we need to practice for when we leave school.”
Izzy was busy reading her Kindle in the sitting area of the twins’ suite when Jinnie and Paolo arrived back from their nightcap. Jinnie put her head round the curtain divider and said quietly, “They are fast asleep and look angelic. Pity they aren’t like that all the time.” “They’re not bad kids really,” replied Izzy. “I hear stories from my friends who trained with me at college and I don’t think you have the slightest grounds to complain. If anything, they are a bit too clever. Did you know they are already writing practice restaurant reviews for when they leave school.”
“Really,” replied Jinnie. “I wonder where they are writing that, I would love to read it.” “I bet it is on one or both of their iPads,” said Izzy, “and I know they are password protected because they do their homework on it and they never show it to me.” “Or me,” said Jinnie. “Fortunately their teacher says they are very bright and always do their homework. When I saw her at the end of last term she was saying it was hard work having them in the class because they were so far ahead of even the brightest in the class. She said she was rather relieved that they were going to be Mr Excell’s responsibility next year, she said that they were lovely kids and not the slightest bit of trouble, but they are so far ahead of everyone else she had to keep finding them things to do to keep them occupied.”
“I know Mr Excell,” said Izzy, “but I haven’t told the twins. He was in my French class and he was very good. But he was a bit of a linguist, if my memory is right from the occasional group chat in the pub, he speaks German and some Spanish.” “Mrs Pilbeam told me that they would be learning Spanish in September,” said Jinnie. “It all makes sense now. I’m sure that will keep them occupied.” “Gosh,” said Izzy, “does that mean I will have to take Spanish at night school now.” “If you do, I’ll join you,” said Jinnie. “I can’t let the twins speak more languages than me. Paolo can look after the twins when we have lessons. Then we can practise together and maybe we can have the occasional drink in the pub after classes.” “That sounds like a plan,” said Izzy.
***
Jinnie and Paolo had a wonderful day on their own in Toulon sightseeing, shopping and a leisurely lunch at AOC 42. Jinnie was interested to compare the restaurant with the TT SuperBurger Group offerings and decided that it was more comparable to Sybaritic than Trattoria Trevi, but the food was excellent even if the menu was very short. But it was French food and a complete change from the Italian Trattoria Trevi, the English Sybaritic and Anderson’s Fish Restaurants. As they strolled back to pick up the ferry across the bay Jinnie was deep in thought.
Paolo dragged Jinnie back to the present saying, “A penny for your thoughts.” Jinnie laughed and said, “Where did you learn that expression, it’s quintessentially English.” “From you I think,” replied Paolo, “but you were obviously thinking about something, was it the new contract catering bid.” “No,” said Jinnie. “Actually I was thinking about that restaurant we just ate in and was there a place for a chain of something similar in the UK. Good class French food, short menu, excellent service and priced at Sybaritic levels.” “And what did you decide,” asked Paolo.
“I never came to a conclusion,” replied Jinnie. “But now you ask I think I will pigeonhole the thoughts and talk to Alberto and Sir Nigel when I get home. I rather like the idea, but I’m not sure if there is a hole in the market, it would need to be carefully costed and I’m too busy to take on another project at the moment. I think I might dump the idea in Sir Nigel’s lap, he is the new business, acquisitions director.” “Well for what is worth,” said Paolo, “I very much enjoyed my lunch, it wasn’t cheap, but my, it was good. I don’t think I will be eating a lot for dinner tonight.”
***
The following morning Izzy found the twins washed and dressed and watching the ship coming into Barcelona from their balcony. “You two are up early,” said Izzy. “We were excited to be going to see the football stadium,” said Millie. “We have only been to the Emirates and Barnet,” added Willie, “and when we went to Barnet we were only little.” “Yes,” said Izzy, “you were in a double buggy. You realise it’s only a visit to the stadium, you are not going to a match.” “Of course,” said Millie, “but it’s still very exciting.”
They hurried off the ship and were disappointed to find a “reserved” notice on the front seat of the tour bus, so decided to sit in the next row. Just before the coach set off the courier got on and asked if they wanted to move to the front seat as she had reserved it in case anyone old or disabled needed it. The twins happily changed seats and Izzy slid into their old seats. As the coach moved out of the cruise terminal the courier asked the twins if they spoke Spanish and they told her they spoke French and Italian and were learning German. The courier looked surprised and asked, “Why German?” Willie replied, “So we can be spies when we leave school,” which left the courier speechless for a moment.
The coach drove around the busy town centre, and the courier pointed out buildings designed by Gaudi, including the Sagrada Família cathedral which she said had been being built since 1882 and wasn’t finished yet, which amused the twins. She also told them how Gaudi had been killed when he was hit by a tram. Eventually the coach arrived at the Camp Nou, and the twins were wowed by its size.
The stadium guide took them to the museum, then into the stadium proper where they were taken to see all sorts of things including the dressing rooms, a restaurant and its kitchen, which interested Jinnie, a walk on the pitch, a look at a box, which the twins said was better at the Emirates, and finally a trip to the very top of the stand from where the pitch looked small and they could see all 105,000 seats.
As the coach returned to the ship via the motorway the twins were happy, with Millie telling their Mummy, “That trip was awesome. We will write about it when our new teacher gets us to write the ‘What I did on my holidays’ story. Now it’s time for a hot dog, with lots of fried onions, chips and tomato sauce. Then it’s the club this afternoon.” Jinnie replied, “I think that can be arranged, your ladyship.”
Chapter 18, Hibiscus Villa again
© WorthingGooner 2026
